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HISTORY 



TOWN OF RICHMOND, 



CHESHIRE COUNTY, 



NEW HAMPSHIRE, 



From its First Settlement, to 1882. 



v^ 



By William B as sett. 



BOSTON: 
C. W. CALKINS & CO., PRINTERS, 64 FEDERAL ST., COR. FRANKLIN. 



> 



v/V. 



'RaijS^ 



TO 

THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS 

OF THE 

TOWN OF RICHMOND, 

WHETHER AT HOME OR ABROAD, WHO RETAIN AN 

INHERENT I.OVE FOR THE PLACE 

OF THEIR BIRTH 

THIS \OI.UME IS KESPECTFUITA' DEDICATED. 



PREFACE. 



In presenting this volume to the puhhc, it is but proper 
to state that the work has grown to greater dimensions 
than was at first contemphited ; but the enhirgement has 
resulted not from the diffuseness in detail of a few special 
subjects, but rather from the brief consideration of many 
topics claiming attention. More than two years have now 
been devoted to the work, and still material which would 
add interest to its pages is by no means exhausted. It has 
been the design to give more prominence and fullness to 
the genealogical than to the historical part, as more inter- 
est often centres around the lives of individuals and fam- 
ilies than can be awakened in the perusal of town annals 
which present quite frequently a painful sameness Im- 
portant events which have transpired have not been over- 
looked, nor have such matters been ignored as seemed to 
change or eHbct the social, moral, or political condition of 
the people. Of the early settlers, those families tliat have 
shown the most vitality and the longest residence in the 
town have been given the greater space, and also those 
connected with the town by birth or residence who have 
been instrumental in promoting its general prosperity, or 
have been important fiictors in the development and growth 
of the varied interests ot our country, have received special 
consideration, while those whose sojourn was so brief or 
unimportant as scarcely to leave a trace behind, we have 
rarely followed in their perigrinations. Aside from the 
incompleteness and all inaccuracies which may appear in 
the work, the committee chosen to compile and publish 
the same believe that more than enough reliable matter 



VI. PREFACE. 

has been collected to pay for all the expense incurred. To 
the citizens of the town, and others inteiested in the work, 
who have aided us, we tender our thanks ; but especial 
mention is due the Hon. Isaac W. Hammond, Assistant 
Secretary of State, at Concord, and the late John J. Allen, 
Esq., for the kindly aid extended in their several offices; 
also to Mr. BufTum, Register of Deeds of this County. 
The services of Fred. M. Ballou, Esq., of Providence, R. I., 
have been most valuable in collecting material relating to 
the early settlers from Rhode Island and the adjacent towns, 
for which we tender our most grateful acknowledgments. 

WILLIAM BASSETT, 
ZIMRI BOVVEN, 
CHARLES W. CONWAY, 
ALMON TWITCHELL, 

Committee chosen at Annual Meeting, March-, 18S2, to 
compile and publish the History of Richmond. 

Richmond, July i, 1S84. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 
SETTLEMENT AND GRANT OF TOWNSHIP. 

Introductory Remarks — Description of the Town — When, Where, and by Whom 
Settled — The Original Proprietors — Character of Early Settlers — New Hamp- 
shire as a Province — Chartei' of Township — Original Survey and Plan of the 
Town — Charter Forfeited and Renewed — First Town Meeting — Town Officers 
— The First Roads Laid Out, Etc. — Cheshire County Formed — Proclamation 
Money — Settlement with Town Ofificers — First Census — About Indians — Rogers 
Killed — Wild Beasts — Bear Fights— Bear Hunts — Noted Hunters of the Early 
Times — Legends of Olden Times Page i. 

CHAPTER n. 
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 

Condition of Town in 1775 — Richmond Company at Battle of Bunker Hill — Asso- 
ciation Test — Second Census — Committee of Safety and Inspection — Soldiers in 
Winchester and Swansey Companies in 1776 — Town Bounties, 1777 — Captain 
Capron's Company for Relief of Ticonderoga — Soldiers in Winchester Company 
at Battle of Saratoga — Bounties Paid, 1778 — Soldiers Mustered in at Walpole — 
Committee Chosen to Hire Men, 1779 — Quotas for 1780— Mixed up with Ver- 
mont—Continental Men in the Service — Cannon Taken Through Town — Bar- 
nard Hix and Eleazer Martin — The Currency — The Price of Articles Fixed — 
Town Action on Salt — Readjustment of the Currency — The Town at Close of 
the VVar — The Women of '76 Pagb 55. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS AND THE 
VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 

The New Hampshire Grants — The Masonian Line, and the Vermont Controversy — 
Time of Annual Meeting Changed — Formation of Constitution of New Hamp- 
shire — Adoption of the Federal Constitution — Petition for Justice of the Peace — 
Sign-post and Stocks — Petitions for Exemption from Military Duty — Warning 
Out of Town — Glebe Lands — Bounties on Wild Animals and Birds. . . Page 82. 



Vlll. CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IV. 
WAR OF iSi3. ROADS, vSCHOOLS, ETC. 

War of 1812 — Town Action Concerning — Captain Bryant's Company — Soldiers in 
other Companies — Drafted Men — Ballon's Poem — The Ashuelot Turnpike — 
Other Roads Laid Out — An Amusing Incident — United States Mail and Ex- 
press Routes — Schools and School Teachers — The Town Districted — A Part of 
Town Annexed to Troy — A Part annexed to Winchester — Map of Town — 
Topography and Geology of the Town — Military Matters — Paupers. . . Page 104. 

CHAPTER V. 
POST-OFFICES AND POST-MASTERS, ETC. 

Post-offices and Post-masters — Phvsicians — Professional Men — Musicians — Band — 

— Inns and Inn Keepers — Stores and Store Keepers — Mills and Mill Owners — 
Tanneries — Mechanical Industries — Other Industries — Blacksmiths — Carpenters 

— Shoemakers — The Old Baptist Meeting House — Burial Places — Times of Sick- 
ness — Accidental Deaths — Fires — -Town Meetings — Singing Schools — Nahuni 
Grout — Solomon Atherton — Went to Law — A Great Fracas — A Temperance 
House — Shows and Exhibitions Page 152. 

CHAPTER VI. 

WAR OF THE REBELLION, ECCLESIASTICAL 
ORGANIZATION, ETC. 

Public Sentiment Regarding the War — Action Taken by the Town — Soldiers in 
Various Regiments — List of Those that Died in the Service or were Killed in Bat- 
tle — Enrollment of Militia — War Rallies — Religious Organizations — The First 
Baptist Church — The Friends Society — The Present Baptist Church — The Uni- 
tarian Society — The Universalis! Society — The Methodist Church — Attempt to 
Form an Orthodox Church — A Retrospective View — The Population and Valua- 
tion — The Klectoral Votes — Political Parties — Town Officers — Financial Con- 
dition of Town Page 208. 

CHAPTER VII. 
THE GENEALOGY OF FAMILIES. 

Abbott — Adams — Ainsworth — Aldrich — Allen — Amadou — Ames — Anderson — Ar- 
nold — Atherton — Babcock — Baker — Ball — Ballard -^ Ballon — Barber — Barden 
Barker— Barms — Barney — Barrett — Bassett — Battles — Beals — Bemis — Bennett — 
Benson — Bigelow — Bisbee — Bishop — Black — Blanding — Bliss — Bolles — Boorn 

— Bowen — Boyce — Brigham — Brittan — Brown — Bryant — Buffum — Bullock — 



CONTENTS. IX. 

Blimp — Butterfield — Buxton — Capron — Cargill — Carkin — Carpenter — Carroll 

— Carter — Cass — Chase — Chapman — Cheever — Cheeney — Church — Clark — 
Clapp — Colburn — Cole — Combs — Conway — Cooley — Cook — Corey — Corliss — 
Crane — Grossman — Cressey — Crooker — Cummings — Cumstock — Curtis — Dand- 
ley — Daniels — Darling — Davenport — Day — Dexter — Dillingham — Dingman — 
Dodge — Doolittle — Ellis — EUor — Emerson — Erskine — Estas — Evans — Fisher — 
Flint — Frazier — Fjeeman — French — Fuller — Gage — Carnsey — Gaskill — Gay 

— Gleason — Goddard — Goodwin — Goodnow — (roodnough — Graves — Grant — 
Green — Grout — Grovcr — Guild — Hamilton — Hammond — Hale — Handy — 
Harkness — Harris — Hayward — Herrick — Hews — Hills — Hill — Hix — Hol- 
brook — Howe — Howard — Hubbard — Huntley — Hunting — Hunt — Ingalls — 
IngersoU — Jessop — Jillson — Johnson — Jittem — Josslin — Kelton — Kenney — 
Kingsley — Kinsman — Kimpton — Knap^— Lawrence — Lester — Lyon — Man — Martin — 
Mason — Meader — Mellin — Merrifield — Miller — Mowry — Mullen — Munroe — 
Naromore — Nason — Nelson — Newell — Newton — Norwood — Nourse — Nutting 

— Ormsby — Page — Paine — Palmer — Parker — Parkhurst — Patch — Perry — 
Peck — Peters — Phillips — Pickering — Piper — Potter — Powers — Prescott — Put- 
ney — Ranisdall — Randall — Rawson — Raymer — Razee — Raynolds — Read — 
Rich — Rice — Robinson — Roper — Russell — Saben — Salisbury — Scott — Smead 

— Shaffer — Smith — Southwick — Spaulding — Spencer — Spraguc — Starkey — 
Streeter — St. Clair — Stoddard — Swan — Sweet — Swift — Sweetzer — Taft — Tay- 
lor — Temple — Tenney — Thayer — Threshire — Thompson — Thornton — Thurber 

— Tillson — Torrey — Truesdall — Tucker — Tuttle — Twitchell — Tyler — Wakefield 
Wallace — Walker — Ward — Ware — Warren — Weatherhead — Weeks — Westcoat 

— Whcaton — Wheeler — White — Wilson — Whipple — Whitcomb — Whitaker — 
Whittcmore — Whitman — Whitmore — Whitney — Wing — Williams — Willoby — 
Wiswall — Woodbury — Woodward — Wooley — Work — Wright — Young — Yates. 

Page 255. 



CHAPTER VIII. 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Nathaniel Aldrich — Sylvester Aldrich — Orrin Munroe Allen — Jonathan Atherton — 
Lemuel Atherton — James Ballou.jr. — Rev. Robert Bartlctt — Job Bisbee — Phebe 
Bowen — Jedediah Buffuni — Capt. Oliver Capron — Daniel Cass — Orison B. Curtis 
— Kendall Fisher — Eliza Ballon Garfield — John Martin — Wilderness Martin — 
Joseph and Benjamin Newell — Loren Pickering — Timothy Pickering — Jonathan 
Rawson — Alonzo Rawson — Col. Henry Starkey — Moses Tyler — Jarvis Weeks — 
Hon. Joseph Weeks — James Harrison Cass — Daniel, the Nig — Nancy Linty — 
Hannah Man — Ruth Ormsby — Penelope Phillips — Rachel Jillson — Aldis Boyce. 
. . Pace 539. 

CHAPTER IX. 
LONGEVITY. FIRST SETTLERS, ETC. 

List of Persons who were Born in Richmond, or have Resided Therein, who have 
lived Seventy Years and Upwards — The first Settlers and some of their Suc- 
cessors — Conclusion Pagb 555. 



CONTENTS. 



APPENDIX. 

School Districts, Nos. g, ii, 12, 13, 15, 16 — Thayer's and Scott's Mills — Biographical 
and Genealogical, Hosea B. Aldrich — Denzel S. Rice — D. Richardson Randall 
— Buffum Allen — William Bassett — Jonathan Garnsey — Samuel Atherton — 
Henry B. Swan — Charles A. Crooker — Silas B. Boyce — William Buffum — 
James Lovett — Nelson Rawson — John M. Sawyer — Marriages omitted — Finis. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Portrait of Author Frontispiece. 

Four Corners, looking South from Buffum Hill, opp. Page i 

Log-cabin " 9 

N. H. State Seal " 14 

First Plan of the Town . " 20 

Sectional Plan of the Town " 24 

Deacon John Cass' Inn " 30 

Indians on the lookout " 42 

Black Bear " 45 

Fighting Bear " 46 

Wolf " 52 

Revolutionary Soldier " 55 

Battle of Bunker Hill " 59 

Trophies of Bennington " 67 

Cannon Taken Through Town " 74 

Continental Currency . " 76 

Belles of '76 " So 

Delegates to Convention at Cornish " S3 

Vignette of Union '• 94 

Whipping-post and Stocks " 98 

Charge at Lundy's Lane " io8 

An Amusing Incident " iiS 

Stage-coach " 121 

Map of the Town • " 134 

Grassy Hill and Ballou's Dell opp. " 136 

The Old Militia " " 144 

Physician's Mortar, etc " 156 

Richmond Band " 161 

Bar-room •' 162 

Wakefield and Widow Howe's Taverns . . . opp. " 164 

Selling Groceries '• 165 

Water-mill " i6S 

Blacksmithing " 180 

Old Baptist Meeting-house and Union Store . opp. " 184 

Cemetery " 187 

Hog Reeve " 199 

Fat and Lean Man " 203 



Xll. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Boys in Blue Page 209 

Lieut. Arlon S. Athertun opp. " 214 

Bible " 221 

Ground Plan of Baptist Meeting-house " 224 

Middle of the Town and Four Corners . . . opp. " 228 

Brick Church and Universalist Church ... " " 234 

Town Officers '• " 24S 

Representatives to General Court " " 250 

.^owN Officers, etc " " 254 

HosEA Ballou " " 2S2 

Mrs. Garfield's Early Home " " 2S9 

Old Buffum House and Corner Store .... " " 340 

Crooker House and Store and Holmes House. " " 37S 

M, B. Erskine " " 3S6 

Lisle Lester " " 42S 

John Newell " 451 

Rev. David Pickering " 456 

John Parkhurst, Jr opp- " 4.s8 

Daniel Peters " 462 

David Randall ('PP- " 47- 

BiLL Weatherhead " 516 

Older Citizens " 53S 

Mrs. Garfield " 546 



EMENDATIONS. 



PACE. 


LINK. 


49- 


2 2 from top 


77. 


2 


77. 


4 


107, 


29 


108, 


12 " 


119. 


15 


122, 


27 


122, 


29 


123, 


I " 


131. 


bottom line 


159. 


29 from top 


186, 


2 


-II, 


41 


212, 


26 


^13. 


5 


269, 


16 " 


269, 


20 


269, 


20 " 


270, 


17 


272, 


u 


314. 


27 


314, 


28 


3«S, 


8 


318, 


iS 


327. 


18 


335 • 


14 


365. 


17 


3^'^>, 


3 


366, 


29 


3r,6, 


30 


377. 


23 


384, 


21 " 



for Ilmlley read Handy. 

for $3,000 and $12,000, read $2,000 and $8,000. 

for $300 read $200. 

for Lewis Whipple read James Whipple. 

for Nathan read Nalium. 

for country read county. 

for seventy dollars read $46.66. 

for twelve read nearly eight. 

for one dollar read one half dollar. 

for Otis Cass read Luther Cook. 

for 1S56 read 1855. 

for 1884 read 1S44. 

for Sept. 16 read Sept. 19. 

strike out the words " Died at battle of Laurel 

Hill, Va." 
for Sept. 29 reail Sept. 19. 
for 1800 read 1799. 
for 1807 reail 1806. 
for 1S09 read 1807. 
for Erastus read Erasmus, 
for Simon read Simeon, 
for Sweeter read Streeter. 
for Gardner read Barden. 
erase W. in the second Benj. W. Bliss, 
for 1790 read 1780. 
for Barzillai read Joseph, 
for Troy, N. Y., read Troy, N. H. 
for there died read died in Wis. 
before burnt insert partly, 
for Penn. read N. Y. 
strike out the words " He m. a daughter of 

Stephen Martin, of Barton, Vt." 
for dr. of Capt. Abner Aldrich read m. Sarah 

Harris, 
after father's place read also on the Garnsey farm. 



XIV. EMENDATIONS. 



PAGE. LINE. 



401, 12 from top, after 179S read m. Eunice, dr. of Levin Aldrich, 
removed to Bethlehem, N. H., where his widow 
now resides. 

401, 15 " for Nathaniel read John. 

405, iS " for 1877 read 1873. 

453, 20 " for Wetherly read Wetherbj. 

465, 6 " after Garnsej place read also on his father's old 

farm. 

481, 2 •' after Bolles read removed to Whitefield, N. H. 

489, 26 " after Ezekiel Streeter read son of Joseph. 

512, ^ '• for Jonas read Abner. 

515, I ■' strike out " young." 



REMARKS. 



Any person who may notice any errors in this work, or discover 
important omissions in the same, is requested to inform the author, 
that the same may be corrected in that part of the edition not yet 
bound. 



EXPLANATORY NOTES. 

In the following Genealogy of Families, and elsewhere, will he 
found the initial letters F. — S., which are to be read First Settlers; 
the letters L. — R. signify Lot and Range. 

When the dash ( — ) occurs between names it is to be read "son 
of," as Danvers Martin — Wilderness — John — John, is to be read 
Danvers Martin, son of Wilderness Martin, son of John Martin, 
who was son of John Martin. 

The initial letter b. aftera name signifies born; likewise d. stands 
for died, and m. for married; the ist, 2d, etc., which sometimes 
precedes the m., indicates the number of times married. 



NAMES OF LOCALITIES. 

" Guinea " is that part of the town now known as No. Richmond. 

"Polecat" embraces substantially that part known as District 
No. 4, near Sandy Pond. 

"Activity" is the same as District No. lo, in N. E. part of the 
town. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 563 



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570 HISTORY OF THE 



CONCLUSION. 

In drawing this work to a close we are fully aware 
that the subject matter which might profitably be in- 
cluded in a work of this kind is far from being ex- 
hausted. Much has been omitted which may have 
been of interest to somebody somewhere, and some 
items may have been included which may be of no 
particular interest to anybody ; but the prime object 
in the beginning we believe has been substantially 
carried out as fully and as accurately as the means at 
command would admit. The historical part has been 
arranged in topics relating to the more important 
events that have transpired, and reference has been 
made to the recorded action of the town solely almost 
for the elucidation and confirmation of the subject 
under consideration. The introduction of some leg- 
ends and stories of the olden time, together with a few 
illustrations of a humorous character, may perhaps be 
considered a new departure from the ordinary course 
in such works, but the object in this has been to re- 
lieve the reader from the tiresomeness incident to the 
perusal of dry statistics, and also to revive in the mind 
of the reader the fact that the doings and sayings here 
in the olden time were not altogether of a sombre hue. 
In the genealogical part it has been our purpose to 
locate and make brief mention of all the first settlers, 
so far as we could with the means at hand. For the 
sake of brevity it has been the intention not to follow 
families after their removal from town in any full or 
complete record, as might be desired, but when both 
parents were of the town, we have ofttimes, by special 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 5^1 

request, continued the notice beyond the limits in- 
tended. The few poetical squibs interspersed here 
and there are such, it is believed, as will give no of- 
fence to the living, and do no injustice to the dead. 

The biographical sketches were intended to be con- 
fined to such persons as seemingly would bear an 
enlargement of the narrative embraced in their several 
family connections and not to include residents of the 
town at the present time, whose obituary notices may 
be more properly written hereafter. 

It is believed that the Table of Longevity will be 
found convenient, showing at a glance some of those 
that attained three-score years and ten. The list, un- 
doubtedly, might be much extended by additional 
research, which time and space now will not permit. 

The Table of the First Settlers and some of their 
Successors, located by lot and range, is a feature of 
the work which it is hoped will be found useful, not 
only to those who now own and occupy the land, but 
to all others who may come after them. 

Now to the Richmondite, wherever he may be, with 
this volume we send greeting, believing that, in a 
measure, he inherits the traditional hopefulness and 
courage of the fathers, and is disposed to take, on the 
whole, a cheerful view of life, and believes, in fact, 
this to be a very good world, and ever blesses his stars 
that he was born in old Richmond. 

William Bassett. 



APPENDIX. 



School Districts, Nos. 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 — Thayer's and Scott's Mills — Biographical 
and Genealogical, Hosea B. Aldrich — Denzel S. Rice — D. Richardson Randall 
— Buffum Allen — William Bassett — Jonathan Garnsey — Samuel Atherton — 
Henry B. Swan — Charles A. Crooker — Silas B. Boyce — William Buffum — 
James Lovett — Nelson Rawson — John M. Sawyer — Marriages omitted — Finis. 



A few supplementary items, unintentionally omitted in the arti- 
cles pertaining to School-houses and School-Districts, to Mills, and 
to Biographical Sketches, which may add some interest to the work, 
are herein inserted. 



SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 
District No. 9. 

The first school-house in this district was located near the forks 
of the Benson and Bowen road, with the "Mill Road " (so called). 
This was moved to a lot on the north side of the road leading to the 
Crane place, and there served the purposes of the district until 
1877, when the present house of commodious dimensions and 
modern improvements was erected on a lot a little south of the 
dwelling of Amos E. Cummings. The house cost $800, and was 
paid for by the following tax-payers, some of whom were formerly 
owners or residents in District No. 12, which was annexed to this, 
about this time, viz. : — 

Abbot & Martin, Ozial Ballou, Willie J. Ballon, Abner S. Barden, 
Benjamin iBowen, Geo. M. Bowen, Nathan Bowen, Zimri Bowen, 
Edwin Bolles, Jesse Bolles, Esther Chase, Charles T. Fisher, Ken- 
dall Fisher, Nathaniel B. Fisher, Andrew J. Frazior, Burton W. 
Goodnough, Daniel W. Hubbard, Horace Merrifield, Martin T. 
Nash, Noah Perry, Joseph Swan, Jacob Boyce, Abigail W. Gage, 
James Harkness, Geo. F. Lane & Son, Thomas A. Randall, \Vm. W. 
Strickland, Willard White. 



574 



APPENDIX. 



District No. 11. 

The district formerly known as No. ii embraced the territory 
from Silas Jillson's to Daniel Cass', and never had, so far as is now 
known, any school-house within its limits. Schools herein were 
kept formerly at the Verney Gaskill house, at Col. Jillson's, and 
sometimes at other places. This district was annexed to District 
No. 13 a short time before the new school-house was built in that 
district. 

District No. 12. 

The district in which Reuben Randall and Nath. Boorn formerly 
lived was known as No. 12. Schools here were kept in dwelling- 
houses until about 1830, when a small house was built on the east 
side of the road north of Boorn's. This was used until about the 
time when the new house was built in No. 9, when it was annexed 
to the same. 

District No. 13. 

This district formerlj' extended from the Woodward place, on 
the north, to the Wilderness Martin place, on the south, taking in the 
George Handy farm ; about 1850 it was enlarged by the annexation of 
Districts Nos. 11 and 15 to the same. The old school-house stood 
near the corner north of the Stephen Boorn house, and was used 
until the present house was built, in 1853. The new house, situated 
on the north side of the main road, a few rods west of the old one, 
was considered a model of construction at the time it was built; it 
cost $706.32, as appears by the records. The tax-payers of the new 
house were as follows, viz. : — 



Lilburn Allen, $27 06 

Moses A. Allen, 18 93 

Paul F. Aldrich, 53 84 

Nathan Bowen, 27 82 

Richard Bowen, 46 88 

Lysander Ballon, 3 66 

Henry Ballou, 13 41 

Daniel Bassett, 3 66 

Elisha Bassett, 35 24 

Jesse BoUes, 24 71 

Elisha Bolles, 4 28 

Joanna Bowen, 2 72 

Joseph Estabrook, 12 06 

Geo. Handy, 40 68 

Bowman Howe, 32 56 

Benj. Hey ward, 9 16 



Elisha Harkness, $41 53 

Silas Jillson, 14 44 

Wheaton C. Jillson, 22 66 

Danvers Martin, 51 40 

Nahum Putney, iS 40 

Jacob Whitcomb, 62 00 

Noah Miles, 4 58 
Anthony S. Whitcomb, 16 64 

Henry C. Nichols, 3 30 

Silas White, , 6 66 

David Thompson, 30 26 

Ebenezer Swan, 2 27 

Nathan Whipple, i 53 

Silas Whipple, 18 32 

Silas Whipple, jr., 49 53 

Jacob Whitcomb, jr., 6 il 



APPENDIX. 575 

District No. 13. 

That part of tlie town known formerly as the " Boyce Neighbor- 
hood " constituted District No. 15. About 1845, Robert Boyce and 
others built a small school-house south of his house, which was 
used a short time, but vvas soon given up, and the district was 
annexed to No. 13. 

District No. 16. 

This is the middle-of-the-town district, and was disannexed from 
District No. 6 in 1846. The territory embraced in the same is quite 
limited, extending only from the Bill BufFum place to the Nath. 
Taft farm. The school-house was built near the Universalist 
Church, about 1S47. 

MILLS. 

The saw-mill formerly known as Thayer's Mills, near the Win- 
chester line, and now owned by Amos W. Lawrence, was built by 
Uriah Thayer, about 1830. 

The Scott Mills, formerly in this town, but now within the terri- 
torial limits of Winchester, were operated some years ago by Alvan 
Scott, who probably was not the original builder of the same. 

BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL. 

Hosea B. Aldrich lived, while in town, on his father's place. He 
removed to Fitchburg about 186S, and after remaining there a few 
years removed to East JaflTrey, where he still resides. He served 
on the Board of Selectmen several times, and was twice chosen a 
representative to the General Court. He is by trade a carpenter. 

Denzel S. Rice m. Belle Dawson, of Wright Co., Iowa, and by 
her had Henry, Mj'rte, and Amie. He was a carpenter, and also a 
photographer. He resided a few years in Iowa, but returned and 
settled in East Jaffrey, where he died, June 8, 1882. The family 
returned to Iowa. 

D. Richardson Randall., son of Joseph, was born in town, but re- 
moved to McDonough, N. Y., with his father's family, when about 
five years of age; became a distinguished lawyer in Wilkesbarre, 
Pa., where he practised for some years, and was finally elected Judge 
of one of the District Courts of Pennsylvania. He died a few years 
ago, in the prime of his manhood and usefulness, much lamented. 



576 APPENDIX. 

Buffiim Allen, son of Moses, jr., was a lover of learning. He 
earlj became a teacher, and removed to Lvnn, Mass., where he died 
comparatively joung. 

William Bassctt (not the author of this work, but the son of 
Artemas Bassett) was, probably, one of the best natural scholars 
the town has produced. Possessed of a remarkably retentive mem- 
ory, he was able to commit whole chapters of the Bible by once 
reading. He became celebrated as a teacher, and was also a recom- 
mended minister among " Friends," to which society he belonged. 
He died ut Glens Falls, N. Y. ,"Avhen about thirty years of age. 

Jonathan Garnsey, son of William Garnsey, sr., born 1790, was 
a successful teacher in town about iSio. He studied medicine, and 
became a practising physician in St. Louis, where he died about 
1836. His brother Sylvanus was also a physician, and settled in the 
State of New York. 

Samuel Atherton — Jonathan — Jonathan — removed to Winches- 
ter with his father's family. He m. a Miss Greenwood, by whom he 
had a dr., who d. in early womanhood. He was interested in mili- 
tary matters and was captain of the Richmond Grenadiers, and after 
his removal was colonel of the Sixth N. H. Reg. He practised 
auctioneering for some years, for which profession he had a natural 
adaptation. He died quite suddenly a few j'ears ago. 

Henry B. Swan, who removed to Winchester about forty years 
ago, has been one of the more enterprising business men of the 
town of his adoption ; has been largely engaged in the manufacture 
of palm leaf, and in making palm-leaf hats ; he has undoubtedly 
acquired a competency in the business. 

Charles A. Crooker, early in life, had a predilection for the sea, 
and soon after his majority engaged in the w^haling business, from 
New Bedford. He arose through the various grades of the service 
until he was promoted to the position of captain of a ship. In the 
latter capacity he was unfortunate, in that the ship was lost — 
wrecked, it is reported, on his first voyage as commander. After 
this, when the civil war commenced, he was in the government 
service as sailing master in the navy. Has been m., and was, at 
last accounts, residing in New Bedford. 

Silas B. Boyce, son of Thomas, was engaged in land survej'ing 
here for a while after his marriage. The superior mathematical 
qualifications he possessed, which may have been largely inherited 



APPENDIX. 577 

from his maternal grandfather, Silas Ballon, must have made the 
profession of civil engineering congenial, of easy acquirement, and 
of efficiency in practice. He was for several years engaged in 
some business in Oswego, N. Y., where he has now two daughters 
living. He removed a few years since to Grand Rapids, Mich., 
where he now resides; his wife d. some years ago. 

t 
William Buffum, more generally known as Bill Bufl'um, was 

quite well known to the citizens of sixty years ago. In natural 
abilities he was undoubtedly not inferior to either of his brothers, 
and, but for an unfortunate casualty, would undoubtedly have been 
one of the more useful and prominent citizens of the town. The 
mishap which caused his insanity, as related by his daughter 
Sarah, is, that one evening, after closing the store of which he had 
charge, in the middle of the town, he repaired with some others to 
the tavern, kept by Lemuel Peters, and spent an hour or two in 
conviviality with certain boon companions; and that, in leaving the 
house in company with an irate and pugnacious individual, he re- 
ceived a blow which prostrated him on the stone door-steps. So 
violent was the collision that his skull was fractured by the fall on 
a corner of one of the stones, and that partial insanity was induced 
th-ereby. This condition attended him during the remainder of his 
life. His insanity at times assumed various manifestations; now 
he was a military hero, rigged out with cap and featliers, and other 
trappings, which would have eclipsed the costume of King Bomba, 
or cast into the shade the paraphernalia of Holofernes; and then 
again he would assume the role of hotel or saloon keeper, and as 
such he erected, near the corner of the Sprague road with the 
Turnpike, two shanties — one a dug-out; these were quite well 
supplied with beverages such as were in demand by the travelling 
public. Lastly, he appeared to be a hermit, and as such retired 
to a cave on the north side of the BufFum hill ; here he became 
more reticent, rarely making any conversation, whereas, when he 
was a military man, or a saloon keeper, he was exceedingly loqua- 
cious, and his remarks were so well spiced with witticisms and jokes 
that his presence always afforded material for merriment with the 
young, and melancholy pleasure for the aged. 

yames Lovctt, probably from Shutesbury, Mass., resided in a 
house which was on or near the present residence of Danford W. 
Martin, in Guinea (so called). Was a maker of the old-fashioned 
dining chairs. Had five children, viz. : John, Milton, Maria, 

Emeline, m. Hunt; and Emily, m. Nathan Bliss of Royalston. 

He d. about 1S35. 



578 APPENDIX. 

Nehon Ra-cuson, an illegitimate son of Anne Whipple, lived 
with Enoch Whipple, who m. his mother. He died, without en- 
tailing any particular loss on the community, about 1838. 

yohn M. Sawyer, probably from Boylston, Mass., or vicinity, 
bought the mills in N. Richmond about 1832. He lived in the 
house now owned by Silas O. Martin, until- about 1846, wher^ie 
removed to Winchester. Had several children. He died a few 
years ago. 

MARRIAGES OMITTED. 

Edwin E. Amadon to Anna I. Smith, June 5, 1872. 
Alfred E. Barrus to Sarah L. Morse, Nov. 18, 1869. 
George A. Barrus to Stella C. Hale, April 23, 1870. 
Edgar L. Barrus to Ella M. Marsh, Aug. 27, 1870. 
Franklin Ball to Susan L. Bullock, Aug. 10, 1845. 
Albert J. Bowen to Ada M. Royleigh, Dec. 24, 1873. 
Edwin Bolles to Ljdia Ashcroft, no date. 

Ira C. Fisher to Susan Putney, March 18, 1S74; ^^^ to S. Frances 
Whipple, Nov. 5, 1S75. 
Alvin H. Perry to Clara J. Brown, Nov. 24, 1870. 
Henry J. Putney to Louisa J. Dingman, no date. 
George W. Putney to Ella A. Davis, Dec. 9, 1S76. 
Charles St. Clair to Abbie S. Whitney, of Royalston. 
Frank P. St. Clair to Clara J. Tupper, March 13, 1872. 
Francis M. Taylor to Maria L. Terrill, no date. 
Benjamin O. Williams to Louisa M. Scott, Aug. 17, 1848. 
lliram C. Walker to Fanny H. Martin, Sept. 9, 1844. 



Tills work must now go forth as done, 
While the story told is just begun. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 3 

vast areas of the states and territories of the threat 
West have been compactly hlled by the landless and 
homeless millions of Europe, — or sooner perhaps 
tlie transition may come, — when the beauty of the 
scenery, the healthfulness of the climate, and the 
cheapness of homes will draw a redundant popula- 
tion from over-crowded cities to the now abandoned 
homes of the fathers. 

But these hope-inspiring visions of future possibil- 
ities are insufficient to counterbalance the weight of 
sadness and gloom which rests on those who, after the 
lapse of years, revisit the homes of their childhood, 
or the graves of their fathers ; to them the changes 
are more marked than to those who have witnessed 
the transitions around them, and hence have become 
accustomed to the mutations continually taking place. 
Some of the old homesteads are dimly definable in 
the newly-grown forest by the wayside, while others 
may be occupied by those of unfamiliar names, and 
a few only remain on the farms settled by their ances- 
tors. Man indeed changes, but the earth remains — 
the graijijd old hills still remain, resting firmly on 
their granite bases, and the valleys between still add 
beauty to the scene ; the ponds never to be forgotten, 
with the rivulets and brooks remain ; the everlast- 
ing rocks are still there, bidding defiance to the de- 
composing elements of nature, and many of the old 
forests scattered here and there present old familiar 
outlines. It is indeed the same old town, recogniz- 
able by all familiar with its scenery in the olden 
time. 

The time for the gathering of statistics of the first 
settlers has been unreasonably delayed, amounting 
almost to criminal neglect. The last of them took 



4 HISTORY OF THE 

his departure more than fifty 3'ears ago, and at the 
present time no son or daughter of theirs is now liv- 
ing in town, to relate the stories of the olden time, 
and but few grandchildren are left to transmit the 
traditions of their fathers. The amount tiiat has 
been lost we may never know, but it is reasonable to 
presume that these pages would be greatly embel- 
lished and improved if the early reminiscences, inci- 
dents, and anecdotes known to the fathers had been 
preserved. Much, however, from the general wreck 
has been saved. The recorded items, though few, are 
important, and the traditions, though limited, are of 
interest. With these the web of historv must be 
woven, and with the warp and woof in places want- 
ing, no fabric can indeed be complete. The first 
movements in the settlement of towns as in nations 
is often buried in obscurity. Such, in part, was the 
case here ; we know indeed who the first settlers were, 
and mostly from whence they came, but the exact 
time of the advent of many is unknown, as also the 
prime cause which impelled them to their migration 
here is not of course individually known ; but it is 
not our purpose at this point to dwell minutely on 
causes which may have fostered or retarded the set- 
tlement of the town, but rather to present a retro- 
spective view of the town during a period in which 
events of momentous importance, socially and polit- 
ically considered, have transpired, in which the peo- 
ple who have dwelt herein have to a greater or less 
extent participated, and in presenting this narration 
of town affairs it may be found that they are occa- 
sionally so intermingled with matters of national con- 
cern, that the due consideration of the same would 
seem properly to belong to the domain of the gen- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 5 

eral historian. History, however, whether of a town 
or ol" a nation, contains elements essentially the same, 
but the former, circumscribed to a narrower compass, 
is termed local, and is of special interest only to the 
residents of the place and to those whose families are 
connected with the events narrated. As the town is 
the basis of the state, so is local history the foundation 
of general history, both dealing with men, together 
with their doings and surroundings ; only the latter 
are crleaned from broader fields and embrace lontj-er 
periods of time. The writing of either is necessarily 
an exhaustible efibrt to transcribe into a single work 
what may be widely scattered, in detached portions, 
and ot'ten deposited in unknown places. The limits 
of the work proposed demand a rigid adherence to 
the primar}' object in views which is briefly to record 
the more important events connected with the town, 
together with a genealogy of the families, so far as 
they may be obtained. 

In commencing this work we are confronted at the 
outset with the fact that the earliest records of the 
town contained in the books of the original proprie- 
tors are gone, — destroyed by fire tradition says, 
many years ago ; the last trace of them that appears 
was the delivery of them into the hands of Colonel 
Josiah Willard, of Winchester, 1796, from whom it 
is presumed that they were never returned, but w^ere 
consumed in Willard's house that was burned about 
that time. The loss of these, together with the loss 
of material which should appear on the now existing 
records, necessitates a fruitless search oftimes in other 
directions for the missing items, and in consequence 
thereof w^e are compelled largly to rely on fugitive 
papers, on the fading memories of the aged, and on tlie 



O HISTORY OF THE 

legends and traditions handed down from preceding 
generations. 

The importance of exercising more care and atten- 
tion in the keeping of full and accurate records of 
town transactions and passing events, becomes quite 
apparent to any who may attempt to compile the an- 
nals of a town ; things which may be considered 
commonplace and of no particular account by those 
most familiar with them, ma}'^ be of great value to 
those who may come after, and especially so to the 
future historian of the town. This town is not excep- 
tional in the incompleteness and inaccuracy of its 
records in the books which have been preserved, for 
the complaint is quite general on the part of those 
who have been engaged in writing town histories, of 
great neglect and carelessness apparent in the records 
of other towns. 

The remote causes which may have led to the set- 
tlement of the town, together with the minor transac- 
tions of the town may not be dwelt upon, but all 
material worthy a passing review will be pressed into 
service. The subject matter treated of is believed to 
be as important, and if fully presented would perhaps 
be as interesting to the general reader as may be 
found in the histories of other towns, more diffusely 
illustrated. In wealth and population the town main- 
tained for a series of years a pre-eminence in the 
county worthy of note ; second in population only to 
Chesterfield in the first census of 1773, and to West- 
moreland in that of 1786, the town became an im- 
portant factor in all matters pertaining to the welfare 
of the Commonwealth. The record, if fully elabo- 
rated, would reflect honorable distinction on the fath- 
ers, and well worthy of mention and preservation by 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 7 

those who have succeeded them, and it is but a slight 
tribute of respect that we pay to their memories, that 
in this limited way we try to rescue from oblivion the 
names of the brave men and heroic women who, 
leaving the enjo3'mcnts of social life in the older set- 
tlements, made for themselves homes in a wilderness 
infested by ferocious beasts and occasionally traversed 
by roving tribes of hostile savages. The difficulties, 
dangers, and hardships incident to pioneer life in a 
timbered country at that time can be but dimly real- 
ized by those living here at the present time. The 
mere moving a hundred miles or more with ox teams, 
or on horseback over rough roads, would be consid- 
ered no inconsiderable undertaking now ; but the dis- 
comforts and deprivations attendant on settlers in a 
wilderness for some years, must have been such as 
required the bravest of hearts and the strongest of 
arms to contend with ; such however were the powers 
of endurance of the early settlers, such their fortitude 
and indomitable courage, that they manfully battled 
the seemingly adverse surroundings of pioneer life, 
and converted the wilderness into abodes of peace 
and plenty. 

RICHMOND IN 1S23. 

[T»KEN FROM Farmers' N. H. Gazbttbbr.] 

Richmond is a post Township in Cheshire Co., in Lat. 42° 
45' N. ; is bounded N. by Swansey, E. by Fitzwilliam, S. by Royal- 
ston and Warwick, and W. by Winchester, containing 23,725 acres — 
The town is 12 miles (south) from Keene, 70 from Concord, and 
72 from Boston — It is watered by branches of the Ashuelot and 
Miller's Rivers, which fall into the Connecticut — The ponds are 
three in number, one of which is one of the sources of Miller's 
River — The soil here is favorable for yielding rye, wheat, Indian 
corn, and most of the productions found in this section of New 
England — The land is generally level — There are no remarkable 



5 HISTORY OF THE 

elevations — There is a small Village of 15 or 20 dwelling houses — 
there are two meeting houses which are near the centre of the 
town — The Ashuelot Turnpike road passes through Richmond in 
an East and West direction — Richmond was granted Feb. 28, 1752, 
to Jos. Blanchard and others — it was settled within 5 or 6 years 
afterwards by people from Mass. and R. I. The first child born in 
town was Lemuel Scott, born in 1757 — -The first Baptist church 
was formed in 1768 Rev. Maturin Ballou was ordained in 1770 — 
died 1804 — Rev. Artemus Aldrich was settled 1777. The second 
Baptist church was formed in 1776, and Rev. Isaac Kenny was 
settled in 1792 — There is a large Society of Friends in this town. — 
Pop. 1400. 

The foregoing extract may be considered substan- 
tially correct, with the exception of placing the birth of 
Lemuel Scott in 1757 ; hereinafter will be presented 
evidence that his birth and the settlement of the town 
occurred at a later date. It is quite probable that 
within the limits of the town some settlements may 
have been made about the time indicated, especially 
so when we take into account the fact that previous 
to 1762 Richmond embraced within its boundary, ter- 
ritory extending nearly to Keene, and that Keene 
and Swansey were settled some years before ; but 
our work is with Richmond, as it was after this por- 
tion was disannexed, to present such facts as may be 
gleaned from all sources available, in relation to its 
settlement, to follow its development and growth, to 
relate the story of the part it has taken in the wars 
in which the countr}' has been engaged, together 
with the more important civil and political matters 
connected with its history, leaving the common affairs 
of yearly occurrence to remain undisturbed on the 
records of the town. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



WHEN, WHERE, AND BY WHOM THE TOWN WAS 
SETTLED. 




There is a tradition that one Sylvester Rogers or 
Rocherson, from Rhode Island, in 1750, made a 
clearing of about an acre, on which he erected a 
strongly-built log- house, for the double purpose of a 
slielter and a defense against the Indians ; that he 
abandoned the premises after a few months and re- 
turned to Rhode Island, in consequence of informa- 
tion received from a friendly Indian of an intended 
visit of hostile savages lurking somewhere it may be 
supposed in the vicinity, and that the place where his 
clearing was made was on the farm afterwards settled 
b}' Jonathan Gaskill and now owned by Jesse Bolles. 
This stor}'^ iri^y be substantially true, with the exxep- 
tion of the date of the occurrence, which we are in- 
clined to believe should be some years later — say 
1754 or 1755 — when hostilities were resumed be- 
tween the French and English colonies, and this from 
the fact that there was no grant or surve}' of the 
township made prior to 1752, and that no rights of 
preemption were secured to squatters at that time. 



lO HISTORY OF THE 

However this may have been, it matters little, as no 
permanent settlement was made ; the real question at 
at issue being : — when, where, and by whom was the 
first permanent settlement made. Most of the evi- 
dence at hand bearing on the matter of time of the 
first comers indicate quite strongly that 1762 was the 
year when the tide of emigration commenced in force. 
Now Lemuel Scott, if we may credit the inscription 
on his grave-stone, was born 1763, and Philadelphia 
Kempton, daughter of Stephen Kempton, was born 
1763, and these are reputed to be the first male and 
female children, of white parents, born in the town ; 
hence it is presumable that not many families, prior to 
this date, could have been here for any great lengtli 
of time. Again, when Jacob Bump came to town 
there were but five families in town, and he came 
after the birth of his eldest son, Stephen, who was 
born January 30, 1761. This is the statement of Mr. 
Nathan Bowen, a grandson of Mr. Bump, and is 
probably the most reliable testimony to be had from 
any person now living touching the question of time. 
This would seem to fix the time of Mr. Bump's ad- 
vent in 1 761 or 1762, as his second son, Asa, was 
born in Richmond, January 29, 1763. 

Some deeds of the first settlers were recorded in 
the Cheshire records, and among these the deed of 
Col. Josiah Willard to Thomas Wooley, who is sup- 
posed to be one of the very first in town, bears date 
of 1763, and the conveyance included the land on 
which he built his house ; but oral tradition sa3^s he 
was living on his place in 1758. He may have been 
the first permanent settler. Henry Ingalls bought in 
1763 ; in fact, no deed has been found back of that 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. II 

date, but from this it may not be inferred thai no one 
was here before that time. 

By the history of Royalston we learn that six fam- 
ilies moved into that town in 1762, and this was tiie 
beginning of settlement there. Warwick was earlier 
settled — a few families were there in 1756. Win- 
chester dates back to 1732. Hence, this investigation 
leads to the conclusion that very few families made 
their advent here before 1762 ; and that the southern 
and western portions of the town were first occupied 
appears quite probable, as the towns adjoining on these 
sides had been to some extent settled, while on the 
eastern border what was called Monadnock, No. 4 
and No. 5, remained an unbroken wilderness. Paths 
leading to Royalston, Warwick and Winchester were 
first made, by which the first immigrants came into 
town, and these were afterwards laid out and made 
into public roads, and portions of the same have so 
remained to the present time. We may safely assume 
that those who located on the old road leading from 
Winchester to Royalston were among the first that 
came, viz. : the two Casses, (John and Daniel,) Aza- 
riah Cumstock, John Dandley, Francis Norwood, 
Jacob Bump, Silas Gaskill, and Thomas Josslin, to- 
gether with some others that located away from this 
line, as John Martin, John Scott, Constant and David 
Barney, Thomas Wooley, Reuben Parker, Oliver 
Capron, Edward Ainsworth, Jonathan Gaskill, Jon- 
athan Sweet and Jonathan Thurber, Ephraim Hix, 
Henry Ingalls, Stephen Kempton, Jedediah and 
Jonathan BufTum, and many others who were here 
before 1765. These came mostly from Smithfield 
and Cumberland, R. I., and from Rehoboth and 
Attleboro', Mass., as did the others that followed from 



12 HISTORY OF THE 

these or other towns in that vicinity. Some favor- 
ing circumstances attended these settlers, as the old 
French and Indian War was at that time drawing 
to a close, and no fear of future hostile incursions 
of the northern tribes need have been entertained. 
The famous battle on the Plains of Abraham, above 
Quebec, between the forces under Gen. Wolfe and 
those under Gen. Montcalm, in 1759, wherein the 
English were victorious, virtually ended the war, 
and all the French possessions in Canada fell into 
the hands of the English and have so remained to 
the present time ; thus the colonists of Richmond, 
nearly all of whom probabl}^ came after this event, 
had no reason to fear the tomahawk and scalping 
knife of the savage, which had been the terror for 
years of settlers in the valle}'- of the Ashuelot, re- 
quiring block-houses and garrisons for their defence. 
The colonists herein were further favored more than 
the settlers in towns embraced within the Masonian 
claim, in being relieved from vexatious lawsuits in re- 
lation to the validity of the titles to their lands, of 
which more will be said under the article explaining 
the Vermont controversy. 

The territory herein presented a prospect as invit- 
ing to the colonist at that time as any town away 
from the river valley, and soon all the land suitable 
for occupancy was taken, and man}' lots were cleared 
and made into farms, which proved unfit for cultiva- 
tion on account of the rugged, unyielding nature of 
the soil, and were soon abandoned after the expen- 
diture of considerable labor and money, for other 
and more inviting fields of labor. 

None of the original proprietors of the township 
named in in the charter of the town are known to 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I3 

have settled on their lands, they apparently were 
gentlemen living in Portsmouth, Exeter, Dunstable, 
and other towns in the eastern part of the province, 
who received the grant in consideration ot" civil and 
military services rendered to the province. 

The men who settled this township were possessed 
of sterling qualities ; many had great courage, forti- 
tude and strength, as all pioneers in a wilderness 
country must have, in order to successfully contend 
against the formidable obstacles presenting them- 
selves on every hand ; against wolves, bears, and 
other wild animals that infest the woods of New Eno;- 
land ; against the winter's chilling blast, and the 
summers sultry heat. Provisions for himself and 
family each settler must make, with scant supplies 
and not readily obtained. He must clear the land, 
make the farm, plant the orchard, build the house, 
erect a barn, and provide himself with the thousand 
and one things necessar}^ for agricultural and house- 
hold purposes. Unremitting toil, directed by a wise 
foresight, was needful for success ; and possessed of 
these essential qualities, in a marked degree, we have 
good reason to believe they were, — tor onl}' the brave 
and strong would enter a field of such labor and hard- 
ship. The cowardly and weak were generally left 
behind ; hence the robustness and vigor observable 
in all newly settled places. The necessities of the 
hour call into action all the latent powers, the exer- 
tions required make giants of the actors, and plans well 
laid must necessarily be supplemented by labor well 
done ; indeed the founders of states have possessed a 
heroism not generally shared by others, looking 
beyond the present visions of future glory and re- 
nown, have loomed up in grandeur before them, with 



H 



HISTORY OF THE 



new inspiration of faith and hope. The foundations 
here were unquestionably well laid on the solid prin- 
ciples of justice and equality, for at the first town 
meeting all fi;ee holders were given the liberty to 
vote. The first test of patriotism in Seventy-six was 
honorable, and with the exception of the secession in 
1781, the subsequent acts of the fathers indicate a wise 
foresight in the performance of all constitutional obli- 
gations and trusts. Not that mistakes may not have 
been made, politically or otherwise, for that were 
assuming too much for humanity anywhere, but that 
the general intent has been good, does not admit of a 
question. Always in favor of the largest liberty and 
the broadest toleration of opinion, still firm in the 
maintenance of individual rights, the record of their 
deeds abundantly shows. The town may not have 
on its calendar as many distinguished for literary and 
scientific attainments, or as many engaged in profes- 
sional life as most of the older towns, but the few 
that have gained notoriety and distinction, have ac- 
quired the same from their native force and vigor, 
rather than from aid derived from the schools. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE AS A PROVINCE. 




'M 



'"^./r-^ 



A concise statement of the early settlement of the 
province of New Hampshire, together with that of 
the government of the same, may make more clear 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I5 

to the general readers some matters hereinafter men- 
tioned, respecting the relation of the town to the State 
of New Hampshire, in connection with the provincial 
grants of lands east of the Coimecticut river, and 
west of Mason's claim, in which this town was em- 
braced. 

In 1622, only two jears after the landing of the Pilgrims at 
Plymouth, Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Capt. John Mason obtained 
from the Council for New England, a grant of Lands lying be- 
tween the Merrimack and the Kennebec. In the following year the 
proprietors sent out a few colonists, and two settlements were 
made, one near Portsmouth and the other at Dover. The partner- 
ship between Gorges and Mason being dissolved, the latter in 1729 
obtained a new grant for a territory between the Merrimack and the 
Piscataqua, and named it New Hampshire, after the County of 
Hampshire in England, where Mason lived. The feeble settlements 
of New Hampshire voluntarily placed themselves under the juris- 
diction of Mass. in 1641, and under her charge they continued for 
nearly forty years. In 1679 New Hampshire was made a Royal 
Province, the first so constituted in New England; afterwards it 
was united with Mass. for a long time, so far as to have the same 
governor, but its own Legislative body and Laws. A final separa- 
tion took place in 1741, just a hundred years from the first union. 
Royal Governors appointed by the King from this time until the 
breaking out of the War of the Revolution, continued to perform 
the olfice of chief magistrate of the province. 

Benning and John Wentworth were governors 
during this time, the former of whom signed the 
charter of the town grant, but John Wentworth who 
was governor when the War of the Revolution com- 
menced, adhered to the Royal cause, and he together 
with other tories were obliged to flee the country, and 
never again returned. 

The name of the township, Richmond, was proba- 
bly selected by some of the original proprietors, from 
the town or borough in England from which they 
came, about lo miles from London on the River 
Thames. Towns of tlie name are found in nearly 
all the States, as also in the Canadas. 



l6 HISTORY OF THE 



CHARTER OF TOWNSHIP. 

PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

********* 

I L. s. I GEORGE THE SECOND, 

BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE AND IRE- 
LAND, KING, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c. 

Ea all Persons to toljom tfjese presents sfjall come, 

GREETING. 

KNOW YE, That we of our special grace, certain knowledge, 
and mere motion, for the due encouragement of settling a New 
Plantation within our said Province, by and with the advice of our 
trustj and well-beloved BENNING WENTWORTH, Esq.; our 
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of our said Province of New 
Hampshire, in America, and of our Council of the said Province ; 
have upon the conditions and reservations hereinafter made, 
given and granted, and by these Presents, for us, our heirs and 
successors, do give and grant in equal shares, unto our loving sub- 
jects, inhabitants of our said Province of New Hampshire, and his 
Majesty's other governments, and to their heirs and assigns for- 
ever, whose names are entered on this grant, to be divided to and 
amongst them into seventy-one equal shares, all that tract or parcel 
of land situate, lying and being within our said Province of New 
Hampshire, containing by admeasurement twenty-three thousand 
and forty acres, Avhich tract is to contain six miles square, and no 
more; out of which an allowance is to be made for highways and 
unimprovable lands by rocks, mountains, ponds and rivers, one 
thousand and forty acres free according to a plan thereof, made and 
prepared by our said Governor's orders, and hereunto annexed, 
butted and bounded as follows, viz. : 

It begins at the southeast corner of the premises at a beach tree 
in the Province Line and runs in that line north, eighty degrees 
west five miles and an half to Winchester Line (so called) to a 
beach tree marked, and from thence north by the needle in said 
Winchester Line five miles and an half to a stake and stones, the 
corner of Winchester aforesaid in Ashuelot Line, from thence south 
seventy-eight degrees east to a red oak marked, the corner of 
Ashuelot, from thence north thirty-nine degrees east seven miles 
to a maple, thence south six degrees west six miles one hundred and 
thirty rods to a beach marked, thence south by the needle five 
miles to the first bound. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I7 

And that the same be, and is incorporated into a township by the 
name of Richmond, and that the inhabitants that do or shall 
hereafter inhabit the said township, are hereby declared to be en- 
franchised with and entitled to all and every the privileges and 
immunities that other towns within our said Province by law exer- 
cise and enjoy: And further, that the said town as soon as there 
shall be fifty families resident and settled thereon, shall have the 
liberty of holding two Fairs, one of which shall be held on the first 
Tuesday in June, and the other on the first Tuesday of November, 
annually, which Fairs are not to continue and be held longer than 
the respective Wednesdays following the said respective days, and 
as soon as the said town shall consist of iifty families, a market 
shall be opened and kept one or more days in each week, as may be 
thought most advantageous to the inhabitants. Also, that the 
first meeting for the choice of town olllcers, agreeable to the laws 
of our said Province, shall be held on the last Wednesday in March 
next, which meeting shall be notified by Col. Joseph Blanchard,who 
is hereby also appointed the Moderator of the said first meeting, 
Avhich he is to notify and govern agreeable to the laws and customs 
of our said Province ; and that the annual meeting for ever here- 
after for the choice of such officers of the said town, shall be on 
the last Wednesday of March, annually, to have and to hold the 
said tract of land as above expressed, together with all privileges 
and appurtenances, to them and their respective heii's and assigns 
forever, upon the following conditions, viz. : 

I. That every grantee, his heirs or assigns shall plant and culti- 
vate five acres of land within the term of five years for every (ifty 
acres contained in his or their share or proportion of land in said 
township, and continue to improve and settle the same by additional 
cultivations, on penalty of the forfeiture of his grant or share in 
the said township, and its reverting to his Majesty, his heirs and 
successors, to be by him or them re-granted to such of his subjects 
as shall effectually settle and cultivate the same. 

II. That all white and other pine trees within the said town- 
ship, fit for Masting our Royal Navy, be carefully preserved for 
that use and none to be cut or felled without his Majesty's special 
license for so doing first had and obtained, upon the penalty of the 
forfeiture of the right of such grantee, his heirs and assigns, to 
us, our heirs and successors, as well as being subject to the penalty 
of any act or acts of Parliament that now are, or hereafter shall 
be enacted. 

III. That before any division of the land be made to and among 
the grantees, a tract of land as near the centre of the said town- 



l8 HISTORY OF THE 

ship as the land will admit of, shall be reserved and marked out 
for town lots, one of which shall be alotted to each grantee of the 
contents of one acre. 

IV. Yielding and paying therefor to us, our heirs and succes- 
sors for the space of ten years, to be computed from the date hereof, 
the rent of one ear of Indian Corn only, on the first day of Janu- 
ary, annually, if lawfully demanded, the first payment to be made 
on the first next after the date hereof. 

V. Every proprietor, settler or inhabitant, shall yield and pay 
unto us, our heirs and successors yearly, and every year forever, 
from and after the expiration of ten years from the date hereof, 
namely, on the first day of January, which will be in the year of 
our Lord CHRIST, 1762, one shilling proclamation money for 
every hundred acres he so owns, settles or possesses, and so in 
proportion for a greater or lesser tract of the said land ; which 
money shall be paid by the respective persons abovesaid, their heirs 
or assigns, in our Council Chamber in Portsmouth, or to such 
oflficer or officers as shall be appointed to receive the same ; and this 
to be in lieu of all other rents and services whatsoever. 

In testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of our said Prov- 
ince to be hereunto affixed. Witness BENNING WENT- 
WORTH, Esq. ; our Governor and Commander-in-Chief of 
our said Province, the twenty-eighth of February, in the year 
of our Lord CHRIST (one thousand seven hmtdred and Jifty- 
tzvo) 1732, and in the twenty-fifth year of our Reign. 

By His Excbllency's commands, 

WITH ADVICE OF COUNCIL, B. WENTWORTIl. 

THEODORE ATKINSON, Scc'y. 

Province of New Hampshire, 
Entered and recorded according to the original, under the Prov- 
ince Seal, this twenty-ninth day of February, Anno Domini, 1752. 
Pr. THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec v. 



NAMES OF THE GRANTEES OF RICHMOND. 

Joseph Blanchard, Charity Lund, Zacheus Lovewell, Joseph 
Winn, Jr., Peter Powers, John Marshall, Joseph Winn, Joseph 
French, Joseph Barns, William Cummings, Daniel Emerson, 
Samuel Kenney, Samuel Cummings, John Chamberlain, Josiah 
Brown, Peter Powers, Jr. , Thomas Harwood, Samuel Greele, Jr., 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I9 

Samuel Farley, Thomas Colbuin, Stephen Powers, John Lovewell, 
Jr. , Temple Kendall, Stephen Chase, John Searles, Jonathan Snow, 
Ephraim Adams, John Butterfield, William Cumins, Jr., Elnathan 
Blood, Samson French, Benjamin Parker, Benjamin French, 
Eleazer Blanchard, Joseph Blanchard, Jr., Thomas Blanchard, 
Gideon Storey-) Jonathan Chamberlain, Jonathan Parker, Thomas 
Parker, Jr., William Parker, Jonathan Cumings, Jonathan Cumings, 
Jr., Phineas Underwood, John Usher, Joel Dix, Joseph Read, 
Eleazer Read, Daniel Rindge, Samuel Greele, Benjamin Whitte- 
more, John Coombs, John Brown, John Hunt, Joseph Ashley, 
Elijah Alexander, John Rindge, Joseph Blodgett, William Lund, 
Jr., Robert Usher. 

His Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq., a tract of the said 
land to contain five hundred acres, which is to be account. Two 
of the said shares, one whole share for the Incorporated Society 
for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; one whole 
share for the first settled minister of the gospel in said town ; one 
whole share for a Glebe for the ministry of the Church of Eng- 
land as by law established. 

Theodore Atkinson, Richard Webird, John Downing, Samuel 
Smith, Sampson Sheaff, John Wentworth, Jr. 

Attest: THEODORE ATKINSON, Secy. 

Entered and recorded from the back of the original charter for 
Richmond the twenty-ninth day of February, 1752. 

THEODORE ATKINSON, Secy. 



PLAN OF THE TOWN AS BOUNDED IN 1752. 

The proprietors, after receiving the charter, caused 
a survey and plan of the township to be made, which 
was completed in December of the same year in which 
the charter was granted. The following plan and 
survey, found in the office of the Secretary of State, 
at Concord, shows the shape and dimensions of the 
town before any of its territory was annexed to other 
towns : 



20 



HISTORY OF THE 



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TOWN OF RICHMOND. 21 

ORIGINAL SURVEY OF THE TOWNSHIP. 

This plan describes a tract of land of tiie contents of six miles 
square lying between the places called Winchester and Ashuelot 
and the mountain land — Bounded thus : it begins at the South 
East corner thereof at a Beach tree that stands in the Province 
line; thence running in that line North 80° West five miles and an 
half to Winchester line (so called), bounded there b^' a Beach tree, 
and from thence North by the needle in said Winchester line five 
miles and an half to a stake and stones the corner of Winchester in 
Ashuelot line — thence South Seventy Eight degrees, East two 
miles to a Red Oak, the corner of Ashuelot, from thence North 
39°, East by Ashuelot line seven miles to a Maple tree marked — 
from thence South six degrees West, six miles one hundred and 
thirty rods to a Beach tree marked, — from thence South by the 
needle five miles to the first bound mentioned : with an allowance 
for one rod in forty to be taken out for windfalls, uneavcnness, 
&c. Measured with the assistance of Peter Powers and Josiah 
Brown as chainmen, who were sworn to the faithful discharge of 
that trust. 

All the aforesaid Lines Run and marked in December 1752. 

JOSEPH BLANCHARD, Junr. 
Surveyor. 

SURVEY OF RICHMOND, MADE 1805. 

The Boundaries are as follows, viz. : 

Begin at the South East corner. Running N. 2° W. bounding of 
Fitzwilliam 2,oi;6 Rods — on Swansey W.8° 30' N.744 Rods to County 
road and 380 Rods to a corner — then S. 37° 30' W. 2S0 Rods to a 
corner — then W, 16° 30' N. on Swansey 693 Rods to Winchester — 
then S. 2° E. on Winchester 1,880 Rods — then E. 8° 30' S. on War- 
wick line 710 Rods — then on Royalston E. 8° 30' S. 1,220 Rods to 
Fitzwilliam line — the distance from County road to Fitzwilliam is 
S85 Rods — containing 23,725 acres. 

By the term.s of the charter the proprietors were 
obliged to put under cultivation within five years, five 
acres of land for every fifty acres contained in their 
grants. This provision, together with others, was 
not complied with on account of the inability of the 
proprietors to obtain settlers on their lands, the great 
hindrance having been the " Intervention of an In- 



22 HISTORY OF THE 

dian War," as set forth in a renewal of the charter 
hereinafter inserted. At the time of the granting the 
charter in 1752, the colonies were at peace, — the 
former war having closed 1748. But a renewal of 
hostilities began in 1754, so soon after the survey had 
been completed, at a time so inauspicious, that people 
could not readily be induced to move from the older 
settlements into a frontier town, exposed to all the 
horrors of Indian warfare ; consequently the lands 
were unoccupied until nearly the close of the war, 
which was substantiall}^ in 1759, although peace was 
not ratified until 1763. The charter having been for- 
feited, the proprietors petitioned the governor and 
council for a renewal of the same, which was grant- 
ed, as the following copy of the act granting the 
prayer of the petitioners shows : 



RENEWAL OF THE CHARTER. 
PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

GEORGE THE SECOND, 

BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRE- 
LAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c. 

Ka all ^Persons to iirfjam tljese presents sfjall come, 

GREETING. 

" Richmond 

Charter Lengthened out." 

WHEREAS WE, of our Special Grace & mere motion for the due 
encouragement and settleing a new Plantation within our Province 
of New-Hampshire by our Letters Patent or Charter under the seal 
of our said Province, dated the 28th Day of Feb'rj in the twenty- 
fifth year of our reign. Grantin a tract of Land Equal to six miles 
square, bounded as therein expressed, to a Number of our Loyal 
Subjects, whose names are entered on the same, to hold to them, 



TOWN Ol-' RICHMOND. 23 

their Heirs and assigns on the conditions therein declared. To be 
a town Corporate by the Name of Richmond as by reference to the 
saiil Charter may more fully appear — and whereas the said 
Grantees have represented, by the Intervention of an Indian Warr, 
since the said Grants it has been impracticable to comply with and 
fulfill the Conditions aforesaid & Humbly Supplycated usi not to 
take advantage of the Breach of said Conditions, but to Lengthen 
out & grant them some reasonable Term for Performance thereof, 
after the said impediment shall cease — Now Know Ye that We 
being Willing to Promote the end Proposed have of our further 
grace & favor, suspended our claims of the forfeiture the said 
Grantees may have incurred and by these Presents, do grant unto 
the said Grantees their Heirs and Assigns, the term of one year for 
Performing & fulfilling the conditions, matters and things by 
them to be done. Which Term is to be renewed annually until his 
Majesty's Plenary Instructions shall be received relative to the 
Incident that has Prevented a compliance with the Charter accord- 
ing to the true Intent and meaning thereof. 

In testimony whereof We have caused the seal of our said Pi'ov- 
ince to be hereunto affixed. Witness BENNING WENTWORTH, 
Esq., our Governor & Commander-in-Chief, the nth day of June 
in thirty-third year of our reign. Anno Domini, 1760. 

B. WENTWORTH. 
By his Excellency's Comand 
with advice of Council 

THEODORE ATKINSON. Secty. 

Prov. of New Hamp'' 
Recorded according to the original under the Province Seal the 
I2th day of June, 1760. THEODORE ATKINSON, Sectv. 



By the renewal of the charter the proprietors and 
the grantees under them were made secure in their 
titles, as by allowing them one year for performing 
and fulfilling the conditions, and a renewal of the 
term, annually, until his " Majesty's Plenary Instruc- 
tions " should be received in relation to the matter, 
was equivalent to a final confirmation of these grants. 

By examination of the plan of the town, according 
to the original grant, it embraced what is now the 



24 



HISTORY OF THE 



east part of Swansey — a triangular piece of land 
seven miles in extent on the west side, extending as 
far north as the southern boundary of Keene, and 
over six miles on the east line, was annexed to Swan- 
sey in 1762. As this occurred before the town was 
organized for the transaction of town business, no 
remonstrance against the project, as a town, could 
have been had. The people did, indeed, some years 
after attempt to revive the matter of re-annexing this 
territory, but were unsuccessful in the effort. At a 
glance it will be seen that the people living on this 
tract could be better convened in their new relation- 
ship. 

SECTIONAL PLAN. 





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TOWN OF RICHMOND. 25 

The following is a copy of the act annexing a part 
of Richmond to Swansey : — 

PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

GEORGE THE THIRD, 

BY THE GRACE (JF GOlJ, OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRE- 
LAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c. 

Ea all Pfvsons to $nf)Dm tijesc Prfsrnts sljnll come, 

GREETING. 
WHEREAS, our Loyull Subjects, Inhabiting the town of Rich- 
mond & Swansey, within our Province of New Hampshire, liave 
humbly represented to us that it will be of advantage and utility to 
them the said Inhabitants to have a part of said town of Richmond 
taken oft" and annexed to Swansey aforesaid Without making any 
alteration in the Private Property of either communities. — And 
Praying that the dividing line of said Towns be altered in the fol- 
lowing manner Viz: Beginning at the North West corner of Lett 
No. 23 in the seventh Range of Lotts in said Richmond, Then 
running due east to the easterly line of the same town, then run- 
ning on the East line of said Richmond to the North East corner 
of the said town of Swansey. 

Know Yee therefore that We having taken the Matter of said 
Petition into our consideration & it appearing Conducive to the 
ease and good order of both Communities, as well as forwarding 
the Cultivation of the Lands there, Have by and with the advice 
of our trusty and Avell beloved Benning Wentworth, Esq., our Cap- 
tain General, Governor & Commander in Chief, of our Council for 
said Province of New Hampshire, And by these Presents, Do 
alter the dividing line, between the said towns of Richmond & 
Swansey agreeable to the said Petition, and in manner as before 
set forth & also agreeable to the Plan hereunto annexed. 

In testimony Whereof, We have caused the seal of our said Prov- 
ince to be hereunto atVixed. Witness BENNING WENTWORTH, 
Esq., our aforesaid Governor & Commander-in-Chief in i*i: over our 
said Province of New Hampshire, the nth Day of December in 
the Third year of our Reign. Annoque Domini, 1762. 

B. WENTWORTH. 
B}' his Excellency's Comand 
with ad\ ice of Council 

T. ATKINSON Jun-^ Sectj 

Province of New Hamps. 
Dec™!; 13th, 1762. Recorded according 
to the original under the Pro\ince Seal. 
T. ATKINSON Jun-^ Secty. 



J 



26 HISTORY OF THE 

No event of special importance occurred after this 
division of the territory until the spring of 1765? 
when the first town meetino- was held. In the inter- 
mediate time all matters relating to the town as such, 
had been under the control and management of the 
proprietors. As these proprietors lived in the east 
part of the State, it is quite probable that their meet- 
ings were held in that section, most likely at Col. 
Blanchard's in Dunstable, from which place the 
town received the books containing their official acts 
and the records of their deeds of conve3^ance, some 
years after. There is no evidence extant that the 
proprietors ever made any improvement in town, such 
as the making of roads and bridges, erecting mills or 
building meeting-houses, as an inducement for people 
to settle herein. The lands were rapidly taken up 
after the close of the old French and Indian war at 
prices varying from 25 to 75 cents per acre. With 
two hundred dollars a young man could make a start 
in life, buy his farm and with the assistance of neigh- 
bors, who usually turned out for the purpose, erect 
his log house and provide himself with some stock, 
farming implements, and household furniture. The 
requirements were neither numerous or expensive, 
but good enough to make a beginning with. 

We now come, in the course of events, to the spring 
of 1765, when Col. Josiah Willard, or High Sheriff 
Willard of Winchester, as he was sometimes called, 
issued his warrant for the first town meeting. By the 
charter, this duty devolved on Col. Jos. Blanchard, 
but as Blanchard was dead, Willard was authorized 
to perform this service. As this Col. Josiah Willard 
was a large land owner, and his name frequently 
occurs in the earl}^ histor}' of the town, it seems 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 27 

proper that particular mention should be made of his 
name, character, and lineage. He was the son of 
Col. Josiah Willard of Lunenberg, a native of Lan- 
caster, who was the commandant of Fort Dummer, 
of Brattleboro', during the last French and Indian 
war. Josiah Willard, Jr., settled in the lower Ashue- 
lot, or Winchester, became a prominent man among 
the early settlers, and was finally promoted to the 
office of 'high sherift' of Cheshire county. 

The first settlers drew their supplies of provisions 
at first mostly from Northfield. The old road leading 
from Northfield to Lunenberg, and thence to Boston, 
was used as the most convenient way to any of the 
older settlements. Before sufficient harvests were 
obtained from their farms, many of those settled in 
the west part made it a practice to go to Northfield 
on foot, and there thrash grain and return with a 
bushel of rye on their backs. In some cases it is 
related that this feat was daily performed. The 
travel itself might justly be considered a good da3''s 
work, minus the thrashing. Among the names of 
those that performed such herculean tasks are remem- 
bered those of Deacon John Cass, Reuben Parker, 
some of the Cumstocks, and others. 



THE FIRST TOWN MEETING. 

WARRANT. 

Province of > 
New Hampshire. 5 March ye 20th, A. D. 1765. 

These are to notify Inhabitants of the 
Town of Richmond in _ye Province that the Annual town-meeting 
for choice of town officers is to be held on the last Wednesday of 
March annually By Charter and on Wednesday the 27th d.iy of 
March instant is the day appointed By Charter for the choosing the 
officers to serve in ye town for the year A. D. 1765. The freehold- 



28 HISTORY OF THE 

ers and other Inhabitants of ye town of Richmond are hereby noti- 
fied and warned to meet at the House of Mr. John Cass, Innholder 
in ye town, at ten of the clock in ye forenoon on ye day for the 
choice of such officers. 

JOSIAH WILLARD. 

At a Legal meeting of ye free Holders and other Inhabitants 
of the town of Richmond in the Province of New Hampshire Being 
Held at the house of John Cass Innholder in ye Town on ye 27th 
day of March A. D. 1765 Agreeable to the Charter of ye town Ap- 
pointing the Last Wednesday of March to be the day for choosing 
town officers for the annual meeting. 

Then voted and chose John Cass Moderator for this meeting. 

Then voted that all free holders in ye town should have Liberty 
to vote in the choice of town officers. 

Then voted and chose Daniel Cass town Clerk. 

Then voted and chose John Cass. Daniel Cass, John Martin, Se- 
lectmen and assessors for this present year. 

Then voted and chose Timoth}' Thompson, Constable. 

Then voted and chose John Cass, Town Treasurer. 

Then voted and chose John Dandley, Tithingman. 

Then voted and chose Jonathan Gaskill, Surveyor of highways. 

Then voted and chose Joseph Cass Surveyor of highways. 

Then voted to dismiss this meeting. 

JOHN CASS, Moderator. 

Province of New Hampshire March ye 27th, A. D. 1765 the 

Persons Before named was sworn to the faithful discharge of their 

several offices According to Custom 

JOSIAH WILLARD. 

Jus. Peace. 

The above is a copy of the record of the first 
town meeting as recorded in " A Book of Records for 
the Town of Richmond made February ye 24th A.D. 
1770." Previous to this time the doings of the town 
were kept in such temporary unbound books as might 
be improvised for the occasion, and were transferred 
into the above-named book at this date, and this from 
which we cop}' is not the original book, which had 
become much worn and torn by long usage, but a 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 29 

copy which was made by Geo. Newell, in 1S78, by 
order of the town, in which we reij^ret to say some 
inaccuracies manifestly appear. This town meeting 
was the herald of a new life for the settlers. Many 
were anxious for the time when they were to assume 
the duties of freemen in the management of their 
municipal affairs. Many things were needed to be 
done for the common weal, which only united effort 
could accomplish. The most pressing was the need 
of better roads, and to this matter the newly-elected 
officers at once directed their attention, in the laying 
out of various roads in the paths already trod. Some 
of these will be traced out for the purpose of showing 
the true condition of affairs in relation to the relative 
position of the families to each other, their way of 
communication, and the most convenient centres ot 
population ; but before we procee'd to this, a few brief 
observations may not be out of jilace in relation to 
this tirst town meeting. The question arises, where 
was it held? The answer is "At the house of John 
Cass, Innholder." But where was this house? many 
will ask, as no house bearing that name has been 
known for a long time before. The last of this old 
historic inn was taken down by the owner some years 
ago. Without keeping the reader in suspense, we 
would say that the house last occupied by Jeremiah 
Amadon was a part of the original house. The old 
John Cass farm is now owned by Perley Amadon, 
and the oriijinal buildinos were located about one 
fourth of a mile S. W. of Mr. Amadon's present resi- 
dence. Timothy Cole and Simeon Cook lived here 
before the Amadous bought the premises. The old 
hotel was located on the main thoroughfare through 
town, and was of ample dimensions for the accom- 



30 



HISTORY OF THE 



modation of its guests no doubt, and answered quite 
well for meetinc^s of the inhabitants. Town meetings 














JOHN CASS' INN. 

were held here for four years in succession ; this indi- 
cates a central point of the population, which undoubt- 
edly it was at the time of the holding of this meeting. 
Before this renowned old inn and landmark was 
demolished, the lines of Longfellow, in "The Tales 
of a Wayside Inn ", would not be inappropriate : 

As ancient is this hostlery 

As any in the land may be. 

Built in the old colonial day 

When men lived in a grander way, 

With ample hospitality; 

A kind of old Hobgoblin Hall 

Now somewhat fallen to decay, 

With weather stains upon the wall 

And stairways worn, and craz^' doors, 

And creaking and uneven floors, 

Afid chimneys huge and tiled and tall. 

A region of repose it seems 

A place of slumber and of dreams 

Remote among the wooded hills! 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



31 



LIST OF VOTERS AT THE FIRST TOWN MEETING. 



Jonathan Atherton, 
Solomon Atherton, 
Moses Allen, 
Ezra Allen, 
Edward Ainsworth, 
Abraham Barrus, 
Jacob Bump, 
Constant Barney, 
David Barney, 
Joseph Barney, 
Jedediah Buffum, 
Jonathan Buffum, 

Daniel Cass, 
Deacon John Cass, 
Joseph Cass, 
Thomas Crane, 

AZARIAH CuMSTOCK, 
AZARIAH CuMSTOCK, Jr. 

Moses Cumstock, 
Aaron Cumstock, 
Abner Cumstock, 

John Dandley, 

Jonathan Gaskill, 
Silas Gaskill, 

Sylvanus Harris, 
Uriah Harris, 
Anihony Harris, 
Ephraim Hix, 
Peter Holbrook, 
Henry Ingalls, 



William Josslyn, 
Thomas Josslyn, 

James Kingsley, 
Stephen Kempton, 

John Martin, 
Gideon Man, 
Oliver Mason, 
Elijah Meader, 

Reuben Parker, 
Israel Phillips, 

David Russell, 
Abraham Randall, 
Joseph Razee, 
John Robinson, 
Timothy Robinson, 
Daniel Read, 
David Read, 

John Scott, 
Jonathan Sweet, 
John S Prague, 

Timothy Thompson, 
Jeremiah Thayer, 
Alles Thayer, 
Nehemiah Thayer, 
Nathaniel Taft, 
Silas Taft, 
Jonathan Thurber, 
Thos. Wooley, 



Edmund Ingalls, 



John Woolry. 



32 HISTORY OF THE 

TOWN OFFICERS. 

Most of the men chosen to till these offices were 
connected with the town by large material interests — 
were land-holders, had large families mostly grown 
up, and were the older men of the town, and had 
been here as long as any, and hence these consider- 
ations, together with their ability for management, 
induced their townsmen to entrust them with the 
direction of town affairs. John Cass was honored 
with three important offices, viz., moderator, select- 
man, and town treasurer, and these would indicate 
the high appreciation in which he was held. Daniel 
Cass comes next on the list to share the honors of the 
day, having the offices of town clerk and selectman 
conferred upon him, the duties of which he appears 
to have been fully competent to discharge. John 
Martin, whose name figures largely in the first annals 
of the town, was chosen on the board of selectmen : 
he was a large land-owner, a man of prominence in 
the early history of the town, and whose name has 
been handed down more numerously through his 
descendants than any other of the early settlers. 
Timothy Thompson was chosen constable. He 
lived next east of John Cass', on the main road, and 
at his house some of the town meetings were after- 
wards held, and his name is frequently mentioned in 
connection with various ofiices of the town. 

TITIIING-MAN. 

In those times they had an officer termed " Tithing- 
man," whose duty it was, in part, to enforce such laws 
and regulations as then existed for a proper observ- 
ance of the sabbath, but more particularly his duty 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 33 

was to exercise authority over unruly youngsters in 
attendance on meetings for public worship. John 
Dandley was selected to fill this office, and from the 
various public positions afterwards entrusted to him 
we infer he was well fitted for the place. His is one 
of the names that disappeared from the town after 
a few years. These tithing-men usually carried a 
cane or rod with which to rap or strap offenders, and 
often were a terror to the boys who might be coasting, 
skating, or engaged in other sports on Sunday. 
That no tithing-man has been chosen for the last 
fifty years must be evidence that the young are either 
improving in behavior or that the old are less atten- 
tive to morals. 

Two highway surveyors were chosen in anticipa- 
tion of roads to be laid out by the newly-elected 
board of selectmen : Jonathan Gaskill, who settled 
on the farm owned now by Jesse Bolles, for the east 
part, and Joseph Cass for the west part of the town. 
This Joseph was a son of John Cass, and lived on the 
Dan. Buffum farm. Having given a brief account of 
the first town meeting and of the officers chosen for 
the first year, we will now present some of their 
doings, which consisted chiefly in 

LAYING OUT THE FIRST ROADS. 

The first work of the kind in hand was the laying- 
out of what must be considered the most important 
travelled way in town at that time, of which the fol- 
lowing is a copy of the return : 

A Return of the Highway in the town of Richmond in New 

Hampshire Province in New England laid out by the selectmen of 

ye Town the 8th day of May A. D. 1765 Beginning at Winchester 

line at the path that leads through Richmond to Royalston, Run- 

3 



34 HISTORY OF THE 

ning with ye Path as it is now trod, By the House of Joseph Cass, 
Francis Norwood, John Dandley, John Cass, Timothy Thompson, 
Azariah Cumstock, Daniel Cass, and Jacob Bump, until it comes to 
the land of Silas Gaskill, to a Rock Maple marked with H. W. 
Then turning North to a Coblen Rock with stones on it, then North 
and by East to a Coblen Rock with stones on it, then North East 
and by East to a Beech tree marked H. W., then North not East to 
the South West corner of Israel Phillips' lot, then North to the 
South West corner of Jonathan Sweet's lot. 

This is the first recorded action of the fathers of 
the town in laying out roads. How can the line of 
this highway be traced? As the description is mostly 
from one house to another, the problem can be solved 
b}' determining the location of the houses named. 
It is evident the path was followed the entire distance. 
The road or path followed was evidently the first 
made in town, and was part of the road leading from 
Northfield to Lunenburg, through Winchester, Rich- 
mond, Royalston, Winchendon, and other towns, 
made about 1735, under supervision of Col. Josiah 
Willard, senior, whose residence was at Lunenburg, 
but at the time was in command of Fort Dummer, at 
Brattleboro'. This old road, then, antedates the set- 
tlement of the town nearly thirty years, and was the 
way by which the first settlers entered town. The 
road was opened by direction of the authorities of 
Massachusetts about the time that the charter of 
Winchester was granted, which town, together with 
the territory embracing Richmond, Keene, and Char- 
lestown No. 4, was claimed as belonging to Massa- 
chusetts at that time. 

The road in this town probably commenced on 
the Winchester line near where the Ashuelot turnpike 
afterward was laid, and running easterly by the house 
of Joseph Cass (located on the southerly side of Dan. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 35 

Buffum's farm), thence south-east to the adjoining lot 
by Francis Norwood's (the old cellar of the house 
may still be seen), thence north-east by John Dand- 
ley's (now Preston Freeman's), thence by John Cass' 
inn, thence easterly by Timothy Thompson's (the 
old house-spot may be seen on the south side of Geo. 
W. Randall's farm), thence by Azariah Cumstock's 
(which was near the west end of the road by Roscoe 
Weeks'), thence following this road by Weeks' to 
Daniel Cass' (this was where Jonas Wheeler now 
lives), thence diverging south-east, rounding Muddy 
pond (near which was located at this time Jacob 
Bump), thence through the Pond woods and over 
Devil-stair hill to the house of Silas Gaskill (this was 
the next place north of where Henry Ballou now 
lives), thence through the Boyce neighborhood to the 
north-east part of Royalston. 

The selectmen in their laying out diverged north- 
wardly at Gaskill's and went to Israel Phillips' lot 
(known as the Daniel Cass place, and now owned by 
Mrs. Amos A. Flint), and finally continuing to Jon- 
athan Sweet's south-west corner (this was the lot of 
land on which the house now occupied by Joseph 
Whitcomb is situated) ; hence this road terminated 
near the top of Gaskill hill, so called, where Jonathan 
Sweet at that time had a log house. This highway 
at Silas Gaskill's connected with the road leading to 
Royalston, which was then in use, but not laid out as 
a lawful highway, and was located near the present 
travelled way through that part of the town. 

We have been thus particular in giving such a de- 
scription of this old road as we hope will render the 
location clear to those who may not be familiar with 
the location of these old settlers. Many of the roads 



36 HISTORY OF THE 

afterwards laid out extending north and south, con- 
necting with this, but long since discontinued, are of 
no special interest to the historian as they stand re- 
corded. Our space does not admit of giving to other 
roads laid out about this time the extended notice 
given to this, hence only a few more which were of 
special interest to the public will be considered. 

1766. The early settlers believed in rotation in 
office, as appears by the frequent changes in all town 
offices, except that of town clerk. In the second year 
of their municipal life, they made a clean sweep and 
elected all new officers, adding two to the board of 
selectmen and assessors, making five in all. The 
annual meeting was held again at the house of John 
Cass, innholder, or Deacon John Cass, as named 
elsewhere, and Abraham Randall was chosen mod- 
erator, and the five selectmen consisted of the follow- 
ing, viz. : David Thurber, David Barney, Edward 
Ainsworth, Abraham Randall, and John Scott. 
Henry Ingalls took the place of Daniel Cass, as 
town clerk, which office he continued to hold for 
more than twenty years insuccession ; John Dandley 
was chosen " Deer Reef." This officer was em- 
pow^ered to enforce the law against the killing or 
destroying of young deer in the spring of the year, 
which office was annually filled, until there were no 
deer to be preserved. 

Previous to 1767, the State had not been divided 
into counties, and questions relating to the forma- 
tion of a new county for this section of the Province 
began to be agitated. Edward Ainsworth was chosen 
a committee-man to act in the town's behalf concern- 
ing a new county ; the matter of the shire-town was 
important to all, and created a lively interest at the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 37 

time. As no action of the town is recorded on an 
article in the warrant " To see if Keene would suit 
for a county-town," we infer that the matter was left 
for their committee-man, Ainsworth, whose views 
probably were known, to act as he might see fit. 

We will briefly pass over 1768, in which no event 
of public interest occurred ; the usual routine busi- 
ness ^ was transacted, roads accepted, and officers 
chosen. In 1769 the town meeting was called "in the 
ninth year of His Majesty's reign," being the first refer- 
ence to his Majesty in the book, and voted that Henry 
Ingalls should keep the law book. This was evi- 
dently the book before mentioned, in which the 
doings of the town were recorded, bearing date Feb- 
ruary 24, 1770, when the entries were first made 
therein. For some reason unknown, in 1770 the form 
of calling the town meeting from the form before used, 
viz., " In the name of the people of the Province of 
New Hampshire," was changed to the words, "In 
His Majesty's name." 

During this year, the first road was laid out by 
courses and distances, and was that part of the main 
highway leading from Royalston to Swansey, extend- 
ing from the State line north four miles and fifty rods, 
intersecting somewhere with the road before laid out 
from John Martin's to Swansey, on the west side of 
the valley by the Joseph Newell place. Abraham 
Randall was chosen " Vendue Master," the first offi- 
cer of the kind chosen. 



RAISING MONEY. 

Prior to 177 1, there is no record of any town grants 
for any purpose, but at the annual meeting this year. 



38 HISTORY OF THE 

fourteen pounds was raised for schooling, and schools 
were to be held in six several places. This was the 
first effort made to establish public schools. Prob- 
ably some may have combined in neighborhoods for 
schooling purposes, and others taught their children 
at home in the rudiments of learning. The board 
of selectmen, hitherto chosen, had been elected as 
assessors, but at the March meeting this year the 
town chose Daniel Cass, Wm. Goddard, and Silas 
Gaskill, assessors. The selectmen afterwards gen- 
erally were the assessors. John Dandley was chosen 
" Captain," or " Master of the Fair," the first officer of 
the kind named in the records ; what the duties of this 
officer were, are not fully understood at present. By 
one of the provisions of the original charter, the town 
was at liberty of holding two fairs, one the first Tues- 
day in June, and the other the first Tuesday in No- 
vember, intended probably to be similar to fairs held 
in England, for the exhibition and sale of agricultural 
products, and perhaps articles of domestic manufac- 
ture. How many, if any, of these were held, does 
not appear, probably none after the commencement 
of the Revolutionary war. 

RELIGIOUS RIGHTS. 

A committee consisting of Jedediah Buffum, Tim- 
othy Thompson and Jonathan Atherton was chosen 
to take care of the religious rights belonging to the 
town. By the charter one whole share of the town- 
ship was to be for the first settled minister ; one whole 
share for the Incorporated Society for the Propagation 
of the Gospel in Foreign Parts ; one whole share for 
a fflebe for the ministrv of the Church of Ensfland, as 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 39 

by law established. The religious rights entrusted 
to this committee probably embraced some if not all 
the shares above named. These shares finally re- 
verted to the town, and were sold in 1796, except the 
share to the first minister, Rev. Maturin Ballou, 
which he finally re-deeded to the town. 



1771. — CHESHIRE COUNTY ORGANIZED. 

As before related, the town had taken action in the 
matter of the formation of a new county, and its voice 
had been heard through Edward Ainsworth, the com- 
mittee-man, in relation to the best town for the county- 
seat. Keene, from its central position, and other rea- 
sons, was selected. The ordinary county courts, to- 
gether with the registry of deeds were herein estab- 
lished this year — hence new political duties devolved 
upon the town in the selection of jurymen. A town 
meeting was held the first of October of this year, to 
choose a grand juror, and draw a petit juror. Jon- 
athan Thurber was chosen for the former and Peter 
Holbrook drawn for the latter for the October term. 
This choosing and drawing jurymen in open town 
meeting, appears to have been the custom in those 
times ; in the warrant calling this meeting appears the 
first mention of the county of Cheshire. 

The town at'tlie annual meeting voted "To peti- 
tion to have the Land re-annexed that was set ofT to 
Swansey," and as no further mention is made any- 
where of this matter, it is probable that the prayer of 
the petitioners was not favorably received, and that 
was the end of it. 



40 HISTORY OF THE 



RECEIPT FOR PROCLAMATION MONEY. 

Province of ) 
New Hampshire, / 

Portsmouth March ye t6 A.D. 1771. 
Received of Col. Josiah Willard of 
Winchester Twenty three pounds nineteen shillings and nine pence 
Proclamation money being in full for his Majesty's Q_uit Rents due 
from the Town of Richmond up to the first day of Jan. 1771. 
JOHN HURD, Receiver of the Quit Rents. 
Examined and received by Henry Ingalls Town Clerk. 



This was the money mentioned in the charter — of 
one shilling annually, after ten years, to be paid for 
the support of his Majesty's government for every 
hundred acres each proprietor might have. This 
may have been the last money paid for this purpose, 
for soon the war commenced, and the quit rents 
ceased. 

1772. — The annual meeting was held at the house 
of Jedediah Buffum, innholder. The town raised 
£70 for repair of highways — the first recorded 
grant of the town for that purpose. The town had 
chosen Jonathan Thurber, Anthony Harris, and 
Oliver Capron, selectmen, and afterwards ad- 
journed to Constant Barney's barn and there chose 
six more on the board of selectmen, viz. : Daniel 
Cass, Jonathan Gaskill, Timothy Thompson, Jona- 
than Atherton, Joseph Cass, and John Dandley, and 
after making choice of these, adjourned to September 
ist, at which time they reconsidered the vote by which 
the six additional ones were chosen, and in this sum- 
mary way turned them out. The barn to which this 
adjournment was made was on the place where Wil- 
liam Buftum and his son Esek recently lived, but was 
owned at that time by Barney. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 4I 

1773. — SETTLEMENT WITH TOWN OFFICERS. 

A committee previously appointed to settle with the 
town officers for their past services reported that they 
had attended to that duty, and that all had freely 
given to the town all they had done since 1765. The 
report appears to have been satisfactory, as the town 
then voted to sink £3 they had raised to pay for 
such services. 

FIRST CENSUS, 1773. 

Unmarried men from i6 to 60, 32 

Married men 112 

Bovs 16 and under, 257 

Men 60 and upwards, 5 

Females unmarried, 218 

Females married 115 

Widows, 6 

Total 745 

Oliver Capron, Moulton Bullock, Silas Gaskill, Selectmen. 



ABOUT INDIANS, AND HOW THEY KILLED A TRAV- 
ELLER ON HIS WAY TO NORTHFIELD. 

But little can be said with certainty about the 
aborigines of this section. That it was within the 
territorial limits of the Nipmucs there can be no 
doubt. These were the inland tribes north of the 
Pequots and Narragansetts. They roamed up and 
down the valley of the upper Connecticut, and their 
hunting grounds extended to undefined limits on 
either side of the river. Their boundaries were 
natural rather than artificial ; mountains, rivers, 
and lakes were landmarks suflRciently accurate for 
bounds, and also served as guides in their wander- 



42 



HISTORY OF THE 



ings. Their trails were from one mountain peak 
to another in lines quite direct from Wachusett to 
Mount Grace, from Mount Grace to the Monadnock, 
and so on ad infnituvi^ or else by the Connecticut, 
Ashuelot, and other rivers. There is no positive 
proof that this was the lodgment or headquarters of 
any tribe. No large number of Indian relics abound. 




The number of arrow-heads, battle-axes, agricultural 
or other tools found are quite limited. No signs of In- 
dian planting fields were discovered by the first set- 
tlers ; but that this was a favorite hunting ground there 
can be no doubt, for the woods and streams afforded 
a bountiful supply of game and fish. The Nipmucs, 
while less numerous than those tribes nearer the sea- 
shore, were equally savage and hostile. Their war- 
riors, when united for a given object, were formid- 
able. Such were the auxiliaries they furnished to 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 43 

King Philip in his bloody war with the whites in 
1676, which war in the end proved alike disastrous to 
the Nipmucs and the shore Indians. Their tribal 
relations were so disturbed and broken up by this 
war that the remnants of these inland Indians were 
impelled, through motives of self-preservation, to 
abandon forever the home of their ancestors and the 
graves of their fathers, and seek asylum among the 
more powerful tribes of the north and west. Hence, 
the country hereabouts at the time of settlement was 
comparatively free from the dominion of the native 
tribes, and the only fear of molestation was from 
hostile tribes of the north in league with the French 
in times of colonial warfare. There is no record or 
tradition of any inhabitant of the town ever having 
lost his life by Indians, but the following story, 
handed down from various sources, is in the main 
probably correct, by which we learn a traveller in 
passing through the town, was waylaid and killed. 
The story, as related, is that two brothers by name 
of Rogers, on horseback, in going from Boston to 
Northfield, and before the town was settled — say 
about 1755, or near the close of the French and 
Indian war — journeyed together as far as Winchen- 
don, where, for some cause unknown, they separated. 
One proposed to continue his journey by going 
through Richmond as the better way to reach his 
destination, while the other remonstrated against the 
plan as being exceedingly hazardous, and, if per- 
sisted in, that he surely would be killed by the 
Indians. What reasons he had for entertaining 
this opinion does not appear. Whether Indians had 
been seen in the vicinity we know not, but at any 
rate the reasons assigned and arguments used were 



44 HISTORY OF THE 

insufficient to dissuade him from his purpose, and 
he resolutely proceeded on his chosen way, after say- 
ing to his brother " that no Indian would ever be able 
to kill him." Nothing worthy of note occurred to the 
traveller it is presumed, as he travelled the newly- 
made path through the wilderness, until towards 
nightfall, when by the wayside he had a glance of 
some Indians, and about the same time received a 
shot in the thigh, which fractured the bone and 
killed his horse. In this disabled condition, he was 
bounced upon by the one that had fired the shot, with 
tomahawk in hand, but such was the strength and 
prowess of the man that he wrenched the weapon 
from the Indian and threw him on the ground, and 
would have killed him if the other had not interposed 
and, by a murderous blow with his battle-axe, in- 
flicted a mortal wound on the head of his victim. 

This tragic event occurred on the old road which 
led from Winchester to Royalston, over what is 
called " Devil Stair Hill," and was perhaps a half 
mile east of John Cass' inn, on the farm of Timothy 
Thompson, since known as the Enos Holbrook place. 
The remains of the murdered man were afterwards 
removed to Northfield for interment. Pieces of the 
saddle which they had cut up in order to get the 
better parts of the leather for their use were found 
near the spot years after, when the place was owned 
by Mr. Holbrook. It was afterwards ascertained 
that there were but two Indians, an old man and 
his son ; that the father was averse to killing the 
traveller, and tried in vain to persuade the youngster 
not to shoot, and finally would not have interfered 
in the contest onl}^ to save his son's life. This ex- 
planation of their motives and doings in the case, they 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 45 

told to somebody in the vicinity of Brattleboro", while 
on their way to their tribal home in the north-west. 

WILD BEASTS. 

The early settlers were exceedingly annoyed at 
times by bears and wolves, more particularly the 
latter, which infested the surrounding forest in con- 
siderable numbers, ever ready when opportunity 
presented to prey on such domestic animals as might 




come within their reach. Doubtless many a tale of 
thrilling adventure and perilous escape might have 
been recorded at the times they occurred, which 
would have presented to the reader feats of unsur- 
passed daring, thereby enhancing the admiration 
which heroic deeds ever inspire ; but, unfortunately, 
little can be gleaned from any sources of informa- 
tion now at hand. We know, indeed, that it must 
have been a pressing necessity that prompted the 
offering of liberal bounties for the extermination of 
some of these beasts, the frequent mention of which 
may be found in the recorded acts of the town. 
When we reflect that safety for the flocks and herds 
could only be secured by corralling the same at 
night, we can well imagine how great must liave 
been their solicitude to be rid of these beasts, for 
even the security aftbrded by pens and barns was 



46 



HISTORY OF THE 



often inadequate for full protection. How often the 
weary denizens of the log houses may have been 
aroused from their slumbers at midnight by the 
dismal wails of their affrighted animals, molested 
by the stealthy approach of voracious beasts, we 
may never know, but that such scenes were of 
frequent occurrence there can be no doubt, as the 
legends of the olden time abundantly corroborate. 



BEAR FIGHTS. 

The most notable of single-handed encounters with 
wild beasts which have come down to us by oral tra- 
dition were the fights which Deacon 
John Cass and Captain Amos Boorn 
severally had with bears. 

Deacon John Cass, keeper of the 
famous inn where the first town meet- 
ings were held, had made a clearing 
of several acres, had built his house 
and stocked his farm with cattle, 
sheep, and swine, which nightly were 
brought to the farmyard and put in 
^^=j places of comparative safety. Such 
'~ were the surroundings, when early 
one morning in the month of April, about the break 
of day, he was suddenly startled by a noise indicat- 
ing disturbance in the folds. Hastening at once to 
learn the cause of the commotion, he discovered 
a huge black bear by his sheep-pen trying to help 
himself to a bit of mutton, for which his appetite, 
no doubt, had a keen relish. Mr. Cass, impul- 
sive and courageous, attacked bruin with a pitch- 
fork near at hand, and for a while the result of the 




TOWN OF RICHMOND. 47 

contest was uncertain. The bear stoutly resisted, 
warding off the blows as a bear knows how, until, 
by a lucky thrust, the beast was impaled on the tines 
of the fork, and even then Mr. Cass might not have 
come off the victor if his invincible courage had not 
been supplemented by great strength and persever- 
ance ; but as it was, these proved more than a match 
for his brute antagonist. 

The combat which Captain Amos Boom had with 
a bear is of nearly equal interest to the one already 
narrated, as appears by the following extract from a 
paper containing a brief history of the East District, 
No. 1.3, by Silas Whipple, 1858 : — 

One day Mr. Boorn observed a huge bear near the spot where 
this house stands (School-house No. 13) making preparations to 
feast on some of his domestic animals, and as he did not feel dis- 
posed to be an eje-witness of such an exhibition without taking an 
active part in the affair, he returned to his house, took his faithful 
gun from its resting place, and proceeded to the scene of action; 
but, unfortunately, he did not succeed in conquering his antagonist 
before his slugs were all used. His only resort then was to his 
coat-buttons. Having shot them away, and yet Bruin, unwilling 
to surrender the combat, became desperate, when Jacob Bump 
came to the rescue, and by a well-directed blow with his axe, 
despatched the beast. 



BEAR AND WOLF HUNTS. 

Bear hunts were common in the early times, and 
were seasons of peculiar enjoyment from the exciting 
nature of the chase, and the many engaged in beating 
the bush for the hidden game. An event of this kind 
afforded a theme for town talk and neighborhood gos- 
sip at a time when a ripple of excitement occasionally 
added more to the general enjoyment than at present. 
The last bear-hunt in town came off as late as 1829. 



48 HISTORY OF THE 

A report was circulated very extensively that a bear 
had been seen in the Pond woods, near Royalston 
line, and a request accompanied the report for a rally 
to kill or capture the beast. Accordingly, on the day 
agreed upon all who were willing were to turn out in 
mass and surround the woods, and from thence, by 
agreement, all were to move to a common centre, and by 
these means be enabled to discover the " varmint," or 
his hiding place. The programme was fairly carried 
out. Men, old and young, with "old Qj,ieen"s arms" 
and rifles, were on hand eager for the sport. Some 
carried tin horns, some tin pans, and others such 
rattle-to-bang instruments as they might improvise to 
frighten the beast from his lair ; but all to no avail. 
The brute had either eluded their vigilance or taken 
up quarters elsewhere. The latter theory subse- 
quently proved correct, for, not long after, the bear 
was killed in Royalston at a hunt gotten up for the 
purpose, and thus ended the last bear hunt, much to 
the discomfiture of some of the Richmond hunters, 
who were eager for the prize, but to the joy of marks- 
men of a neighoring town. 

Wolves were more common and also more trouble- 
som.e than bears among the flocks and herds. Noise- 
lessly and stealthily stealing abroad at night, often in 
packs, they made sad havoc of flocks of sheep and 
of herds of young cattle left without due protection 
against their nocturnal visits. At other times they 
gathered in large numbers to some common rendez- 
vous, and held high carnival, making night hideous 
with their bowlings. The last wolf-hunt we can 
glean any knowledge of was in the north-west part 
of the town, about 1788, and after the town ceased 
to ofter bounties for wolves' heads. The particulars 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 49 

of this hunt are now unknown, only in this, that the 
animal was killed, and consequently that that part of 
the town was relieved from the apprehension of 
future visits from the unwelcome intruders. 



NOTED HUNTERS IN THE EARLY TIMES. 

Among those who became celebrated as hunters in 
the early time, the name of Moses Cumstock has 
been handed down as one of the most successful. 
He was the tirst settler on what has generally been 
known as the Caleb Buftum place. He sought out 
and killed the more venomous — such as wolves, 
lynx, bears, and catamounts. Possessed of dauntless 
courage, single-handed he attacked these beasts with- 
out hesitancy, oftentimes under circumstances of great 
peril and danger, and such was his skill that he rarely 
failed to secure his game. 

Another of the Cumstocks, Abner, who lived on 
the place now owned by Hiram P. Sprague, was 
almost equally successful as a hunter. He scoured 
the woods in the west part, while Moses ranged 
Grassy hill, the valley of the Tully, and the Pond 
woods. Jacob Bump, when he lived on the place 
now owned by George B. Hadley, was successful in 
securing game. During one winter he captured and 
killed six deer and a moose, the latter was taken near 
the brook above Martin's mill, hence for a long time 
afterwards this locality was called " Moose Valley." 
Captain Amos Boorn, who lived on the farm now 
owned by Calvin Martin, was a bear-hunter, and 
especially successful in ridding the country of these 
pests. Deacon John Cass could fight bears or any- 
thing else that came in his way, but was not a profes- 
4 



50 HISTORY OF THE 

sional hunter. Daniel Ballon, at a later date, became 
famous as a marksman, and did good service in clear- 
ing out the remnants that occasionally prowled 
through the forest in the east part of the town. 



LEGENDS OF THE OLDEN TIME. 

How William Goddard Saved his Pig. 

Mr. William Goddard, soon after his settlement on 
the lot of land lying between the mills and the Alvan 
Barrus place, the site of whose house is still visible 
near a large elm on the west side of the road, was 
awakened at an unseasonable hour from his slumbers 
some time in the early spring of 1772. The cause of 
his disquietude was unmistakable. The pig in the 
pen near at hand had evidently been disturbed, as the 
high pitch in the key-notes proceeding therefrom 
seemed to indicate. A glance at the situation re- 
vealed at once the cause of the uncommon commo- 
tion. A black bear, common to the region, was in 
the act of bearing away from the enclosure the chief 
reliance of the family for sausage and bacon. No 
time was lost in needless skirmishing at a distance. 
The needful preparations were soon completed, 
hastened no doubt by the piercing squeals of his 
pigship. A loaded gun, always kept in readiness 
for any sudden emergency, was brought into use. 
The first discharge, misdirected no doubt in the 
momentary excitement, caused him to loosen his 
hold on the pig, but was not effective in preventing 
his escape to the bush near by. The sequel of the 
affair was that a grand bear-hunt was gotten up by 
the neighboring settlers a day or tw^o after, and two 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. SI 

bears that had infested the neighborhood, much to 
the annoyance of the settlers in that section, were 
killed and brought to the tavern of Deacon John 
Cass, where a division was made of the spoils, 
amidst the mutual rejoicings of the hunters and 
settlers there assembled. 



How Nathan Aldrich^s Wife Drove a Wolf from her 
Door-yard. 

It so happened, in the spring of 1771, that Mr. 
Nathan Aldrich had occasion to make a journey to 
his native town of Mendon, and as considerable time 
must necessarily elapse before his return, he gave 
specific orders to a young man* living in the family 
how to proceed in case they were molested with 
wolves that were lurking in the vicinity, and whose 
frequent visits of late had been the cause of much 
annoyance to the family. He gave minute directions 
about loading the gun, where it should be kept, and 
how handled. His dog, a spunky little cur indeed, 
but too small to cope with a wolf, he left behind for 
the better protection of the household. Not long 
after his departure, the family were aroused by the 
cries of the dog while being chased by the wolf mto 
the door-yard, when soon a fierce tussle ensued be- 
tween the beasts. At this critical moment, when it 
appeared probable that the dog could not much 
longer withstand the onslaught of the wolf, Mrs. 
Aldrich ordered the youngster to shoot the beast, but 
whether from nervousness, irresolution, or want of 
courage, may never be known, he could not be in- 



♦ Daniel Peters. 



52 HISTORY OF THE 

duced, either by threats or persuasions, to make the 
attempt. In this emergency, nerved to desperation 
by seeing the faithful dog torn to pieces in her 
presence, without more ado she sallied forth with 
the implement nearest at hand, a heavy white-birch 
broom. This raised aloft, and with a yell of defiance, 
she went for him with amazonian bravery, and so 
affrighted the wolf that he took to his heels and 
sought shelter in the nearest covert. The dog was 
found to be badly lacerated, but finally, after a 
while, recovered, and was more prized than ever for 
the grit he had shown in trying to defend himself and 



the family of which he seemed to constitute a part, in 
an affray which, while it cast lustre on the dog, 
dimmed the reputation of the irresolute, nervous 
young man, whose name soon became the synonym 
of cowardice and imbecility, and his departure from 
that locality was materially hastened, from the un- 
flattering comments of the neighbors w^ho had heard 
of the part he took in the transaction. Nor was this 
all the mishap to the poor young man ; to cap 
the climax, the girl who had favorably received his 
attentions gave him the mitten, and he went, un- 
doubtedly, sorrowing away, a lesson to all other 
aspiring youngsters always to act a manly part in 
all emergencies of life. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 53 

Hovj Moses C7i?nstock Killed a Panther. 

The adventure which Moses Cumstock, who was 
the first settler on the farm known as the Caleb 
Buffum place, had with a catamount, or panther, 
is of nearly equal interest as a feat of courage and 
indomitable pluck to that related of General Putnam 
and the wolf. The Cumstocks, of whom there were 
four in the early history of the town, were noted and 
mighty hunters, who, like Nimrod of olden time, 
were renowned for their prowess and dexterity in 
exterminating voracious beasts, thereby making it 
possible for civilized man to occupy and cultivate the 
land. Mr. Cumstock, as was his wont at intervals 
between the more pressing engagements of his farm- 
ing operations, started out one morning in quest of 
game. Accompanied by his dog, he made his way 
to Grassy hill, in the east part of the town. Here 
he haply came upon the lifeless body of a deer, 
partly devoured, as it appeared, by some wild animal 
that very morning. The track was immediately 
taken b}'^ the dog, and pursuit was made in the 
direction of Cass pond, over . Devil-stair hill, and 
thence southerly, near the Falls, to Tully moun- 
tain, in the east part of Orange. The chase had 
been long and exciting, and withal wearisome ; it 
must have been, in traversing a rough country, 
through woods obstructed at every step by wind- 
falls and underbrush. Our hero, nerved b}' the 
hope of securing his game, followed up the pursuit 
with unflagging zeal, although it was late in the day 
when the beast was brought to bay in a cave, or den, 
formed of rocks, on the side of the mountain. The 
shades of night were fast enclosing the landscape, 



54 HISTORY OF THE 

and the animal, in a ferocious, defiant attitude, was 
but dimly seen in the cavern, when Cumstock, with 
steady aim, discharged his rifle between what ap- 
peared to be two orbs of fire glaring with infernal 
malignity. Hastily loading again, he entered the 
approach to the lair of the beast, ready at once to re- 
peat the discharge if signs of life should appear ; but, 
fortunately, the first shot had done its work. The 
panther, prostrate and lifeless, was drawn from the 
den, and on the morrow was transported to the hun- 
ter's home, amidst the rejoicing and joyful acclama- 
tions of all on the line of his triumphant return. 
The animal proved to be the largest of the species 
ever taken in the township, and sufficiently powerful, 
as appeared by his muscular development, to have 
destroyed any of the domestic animals with which it 
might have come in contact. The skin was dressed 
for a robe, and was used for that purpose by Mr. 
Cumstock while he remained in town, and was car- 
ried by him, when he moved to the state of New 
York, as a memento of his valor, courage, and per- 
sistency, in one of the most thrilling encounters con- 
nected with the early history of the town. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



55 



CHAPTER II. 



WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 

1775- 

Condition of Town in 1775 — Richmond Company at Battle of Bunker Hill — Asso- 
ciation Test — Second Census — Committee of Safety and Inspection — Soldiers in 
Winchester and Swansey Companies in 1776 — Town Bounties, 1777 — Captain 
Capron's Company for relief of Ticonderoga — Soldiers in Winchester Company 
at Battle of Saratoga — Bounties paid, 1778 — Soldiers Mustered in at Walpole — 
Committee chosen to hire Men, 1779 — Quotas for 1780 — Mixed up with Ver- 
mont — Continental Men in the Service — Cannon taken through Town — Bar- 
nard Hix and Eleazer Martin — The Currency — The Price of Articles Fixed — 
Town Action on Salt — Readjustment of the Currency — The Town at Close 
of the War — The Women of '76. 

The period embraced between 
the settlenient of the town and 
the beginning of the war of the 
Revolution had been to the col- 
onists uneventful. They had 
been permitted to devote their 
energies to the clearing up and 
improvement of their farms, un- 
disturbed b}' war or other com- 
motion which had been the lot 
of settlers in other places. In 
the spring of 1775, the town 
had experienced ten years of municipal life, and 
had made no inconsiderable progress in transform- 
ing a wilderness into cultivated fields. Most of the 
land fit for cultivation had been taken up and occu- 
pied ; still, extensive tracts in the east part had been 
undisturbed by the woodsman's axe. A cursory 
glance at the condition of the town at this time may 




56 HISTORY OF THE 

not be out of place here in forming a true estimate of 
the services rendered by the first settlers in the Revo- 
lutionary war. The population of the town was 860, 
and number of voters about 175. The business 
centres of the town were at Daniel Cass' and James 
Cook's, at neither place a village. There were some 
saw-mills, and one or two grist-mills, two stores and 
four or five taverns in town. Many of the families 
were still living in log-houses. They had no meeting- 
house of any kind, or school-houses of any descrip- 
tion. Money was extremely scarce, and not much in 
circulation. Their exchanges were mostly made by 
barter. Their means of locomotion were extremely 
limited, mostly confined to horseback riding, or jolt- 
ing along in the ox-cart — light wagons had not 
come into use, and covered carriages were not 
thought of. They had no newspapers or periodi- 
cals, and no books of any amount. Still, isolated as 
they were in the midst of deprivations, they were not 
ignorant of the more important events transpiring. 
News was transmitted by living messengers from 
town to town, as they might be journeying through 
the country. The town talk was largely on topics 
touching the rights and liberties of the people. They 
discussed the "Stamp Act," the "Boston Port Bill," 
and kindred measures. The disregard of the British 
government to the petitions, remonstrances, and pro- 
tests of the people for the redress of grievances had 
been fully considered, and the policy of the king and 
ministry had been unsparingly denounced. Their 
gravest apprehensions had been awakened by the 
quartering of British troops in Boston for the purpose 
of intimidation and coercion, and it is probable that 
they foresaw that these continued aggressions on the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 57 

rights of the people must result in forcible resist- 
ance. Such, then, may be considered a fair repre- 
sentation of the town when the war commenced, and 
it may be reasonably assumed that the people were 
not wholly unprepared for the contest at hand ; but it 
would seem that they were in a condition such as 
would require an exigency of the most pressing 
urgency for support before a demand could reason- 
ably be made on them for personal service in the 
field. When news of the Concord fight reached 
them they were busily engaged in the midst of their 
spring's work. The more active and influential 
called a meeting of the citizens immediately, for 
consultation. Some of the leading men in Win- 
chester were probably there. The situation was 
fully discussed, and their duties in the emergency 
duly considered. What they did was wholly volun- 
tary. No requisition had at this time been made on 
the town for soldiers. They were not long in ar- 
riving at a conclusion. They resolved that their 
rights and liberties must either be defended with 
force and arms, or else they must submit to the 
behests of arbitrary power. 

The former of these alternatives they wisely chose, 
and prepared themselves as best they could to meet 
the crisis. The people were well united on the ques- 
tions at issue. The Quakers, whose principles for- 
bade them to unite in war, gave their sympathies at 
least to the popular cause, as appears by their signa- 
tures on the "Association Test" hereinafter inserted, 
wherein they signified that they would not " refuse 
to associate to defend by arms the United Colonies 
against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and 
armies." 



58 HISTORY OF THE 

The number of Tories was quite limited. Only 
one is known finally to have adhered to the royal 
cause. Thomas Crane, who owned the farm where 
Robert Swan afterwards lived, in the hollow, left his 
farm and family and fled to Nova Scotia, and never 
returned. Little can be gleaned from the town 
records in relation to this war. Here and there the 
record of a vote appears defining what bounty shall 
be paid to soldiers, or what shall constitute a "turn " 
in the service, but nothing to show the amount of 
service, or by whom performed. 

The first recorded act of the town in sustaining the 
revolutionary movement and the Continental Con- 
gress, was on the sixth of April, 1775, when the fol- 
lowing vote was passed : — 

Voted, To raise three pounds, eight shillings, which the Con- 
gress has sent for to this town. 

This was but thirteen days before the battle of 
Lexington, and was passed at a meeting held at the 
house of Deacon John Cass. The recorded action of 
the town at this time but dimly reflects the patriotic 
sentiments of the people. The evidence is quite 
conclusive that there was more unanimity in feeling 
and in sentiment in this town, in the prosecution of 
this war, than in either of the others since, in which 
the town has taken part. The excitement conse- 
quent on hearing of the Concord fight must have been 
intense and all-prevading. We may never know all 
that was done, and still less can we know what was 
said ; but from their subsequent acts, it may be in- 
ferred that stirring speeches of the Patrick Henry 
type were made, by whom we hardly know, but may 
reasonably infer that Henry Ingalls, Esq., Captain 
Oliver Capron, Michael Barrus, David Barne3s David 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



59 



Russell, and Rufus Whipple, Esq., were prominent 
in the work of arousing the people to immediate and 
united action. The final result of the meeting before 
alluded to was that nearly a whole company volun- 
teered under command of Captain Oliver Capron, 
which company joined Colonel Ephraim Doolittle's 
regiment, which was commissioned at Cambridge on the 
twelfth day of June, 1775. This regiment was mostly 
raised in towns in the north part of Worcester County. 
Frothingham, in his history of the "Siege of Bos- 
ton," says that "three hundred of Doolittle's men, 
under command of Major Willard Moore of Paxton, 
were engaged in the battle of Bunker Hill." Some 




BATTLE OF BUNKKR HILL. 



of the Richmond Company certainly were in this 
engagement. Jeremiah Barrus, Sr., the last of the 
Revolutionary soldiers in town, often spoke of being 
in that battle. The roll of this company appears in a 
return of the same, Oct. 6, 1775, when stationed at 



6o HISTORY OF THE 

Winter hill, in Cambridge. This may be found in 
the office of the Adjutant-General at Boston, and is 
probably the only record of the company now extant. 
The company, soon after this return was made, re- 
turned to their homes, with the exception of some who 
enlisted in the Continental army. This completes the 
record of the town in the war for the year 1775 » with 
the exception of giving the following names of the 
officers and soldiers of the Richmond company in 
Colonel Doolittle's regiment, June 12, 1775 : — 

Capt. Oliver Capron, Lieut. David Barney, Sergt. Henry Ingalls, 
Sergt Rufus Whipple, Sergt. David Russell, Corp. Hezekiah Thur- 
ber, Corp. James Westcoat; Privates Solomon Aldrich, William 
Aldrich, Nathan Barrus, Jeremiah Barrus, William Barney, Samuel 
Carpenter, Azariah Cumstock, John Ellis, John Garnsey, Abiel 
Knap, Eleazer Martin, Eli Page, Daniel Peters, Israel Peters, 
Timothy Robinson, David Shearman, Jeremiah Thayer, John 
Wooley. 

Sixteen others from Winchester, Warwick, and 
other places, joined this company. 

Early in the spring of 1776, Congress took pre- 
cautionary measures to ascertain the state of the 
popular mind, and to strengthen the cause of liberty 
and independence, in defence of which the patriots 
had already taken up arms. The Committee of 
Safety for New Hampshire sent to the selectmen of 
the several towns a copy of the resolution of Congress 
for endorsement. The selectmen of Richmond ob- 
tained, finall3S nearly all the voters of the town. On 
June 26th, twelve, for reasons set forth, refused to sub- 
scribe, but after the Declaration of Independence on 
the fourth of the following month, ten of these united 
with the others, leaving but two that remained obsti- 
nate. Among the subscribers to the resolution may 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 6l 

be seen the name of Thomas Crane, who is reported 
to have been disloyal to the popular cause, but at this 
time was induced to subscribe to the " Association 
Test." 

But two in town were disarmed, viz.. Captain Amos 
Boorn and Jonathan Sweet, and this was done the 
year betbre, in 1775. This was probably a hasty and 
inconsiderate act, as appears from the subsequent 
action of the town in making" ample remuneration for 
the loss sustained. 



ASSOCIATION TEST. 

Colony of New Hampshire. 

In Committee of Safety, 
April 12, 1776. 

In order to carry the underwritten Resolve of the Honorable Con- 
gress into execution, you are requested to desire all Males above 
Twenty-one years of age (Lunatics, Idiots, and Negroes excepted) 
to sign to the Declaration on this paper, and when so done to make 
return thereof, together with the name or names of all who shall 
refuse to sign the same, to the General Assembly or Committee of 
Safety of this Colony. 

M. WEARE, Chair num. 

In Congress, March 14, 1776. 
Resolved, That it is recommended to the several Assemblies, 
Conventions, and Councils or Committees of Safety of the United 
Colonies immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within 
their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaft'ected to the 
cause of America, or who have not associated, or refuse to associate, 
to defend by Arms the United Colonies against hostile attempts of 
the British fleets and armies. 

(Copy) Extract from the minutes. 

CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec'y. 

SIGNERS IN RICHMOND. 
Constant Barney, Solomon Atherton, Simpson Hammond, Jer- 
emiah Thayer, Azariah Comstock, Jr., Samuel Ilix, Abraham 



62 



HISTORY OF THE 



/ 



Barrus, Francis Norwood, Jr., Ephraim Hix, Nathaniel Wliipple, 
Joseph Cass, Edmund Ingalls, Barnabas Thrasher, Ebenezer 
Ornsbe, Matturian Ballon, Israel Whipple, Reuben Parker, Richard 
Peters, Oliver Barrus, John Robinson, Ebenezer Peters, John 
Danly, Peter Holbrook, Elezer Martin, Isaac Benson, Nathan 
Hadley, Isrill Peters, Daniel Read, John Barrus, John Woolley, 
Daniel Greens, Joseph Kazey, Ebenezer Cole, John Scott, James 
Kingsley, Samuel Carpenter, Michael Barrus, Amos Garnsej, 
Jonathan Jillson, Alles Thajer, Rufus Whipple, John Ellis, John 
Garnsej, Jonathan Atherton, David Cass, Jeremiah Thajer, Jr., 
Oliver Garnsej, Oliver Capron, Ichabod Whipple, Timothj 
Thompson, Azariah Comstock, Dan. Freeman, Ezra Ormsbee, 
Seth Ballon, David Barnej, James Westcott, Moses Comstock, 
Benjamin Thrusher, Solomon Aldrich, Ezra Daj, Ebenezer Bar- 
rus, Eli Page, Stephen Kempton, Abraham Barrus, Jr., William 
Goddard, Jeremiah Bullock, Timothy Robinson, Henrj Ingalls, 
Oliver Hix, Nehemiah Thajer, Amos Hix, Abiel Knap, Nath'l 
Whipple, Jonathan Bozard, Thomas Woolej, Othniel Daj, David 
Sherman, David Hix, Moses Tjler, Abner Aldrich, Jr., Barnard 
Hix, Jacob Bump, Abraham Randall, Enoch White, Josiah Streaton, 
Asa Man, Paul Handj, William Aldrich, John Cass, Holab Smith, 
Jonah Twitchel, Samson Thajer, Aaron Aldrich, Ephraim Taft, 
Jonathan Bools, Thomas Bowen, Silas Taft, Joseph Newell, Joseph 
Wing, Abraham Man, John Martin, John Wing, Isquire Whipple, 
George Martin, Jonathan Gaskill, Grindall Thajer, Robert Works, 
John Sprague, Francis Norwood, Thomas Crane, Israel Phillips, 
John Cass, David Russell, Thomas Horton, Oliver Ormsbe, Moses 
Martin, Silas Gaskill, James Tilson, Peter Martin, John Martin, Jr., 
Paul Bojce, Joseph Cass, Jr., William Cook, Jeans Ballou, Daniel -7^ 
Cass, Luke Cass, Silas Ballon, Daniel Cass, Jr., Richard Peters, 
Jr., Hezekiah Thurber, James Ranan, Noah Curtis, Jonathan 
Sweet, Gideon Man, Amriah Curtis, Daniel Peters, Ezra Allen, 
Samuel Curtis, Moses Allen, Annanias Aldrich, Joseph Allen, 
Abner Aldrich, Jedediah Buifum, Tribe Aldrich, Nathan Harkness, 
Oliver Mason, Jonathan Thurber, George Cook, William Gernej, 
Nathan Aldrich, Nathan Bullock, Peter Aldrich, Anthonj Harris, 
Uriah Harris, Nathaniel Taft, Artemas Aldrich. 
Daniel Read, John Danlj, Selectmen. 
August 30th, 1776. 

Richmond, June the 26th, 1776. 
To the Hoti'blc Provcncil Congress : 

These do Certify the Reason Whj we the Subscribers do not sine 
the Resolution of the Congress in taking up Amies. We do not 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 63 

Believe that it is the will of God to take awaj the Lives of our 
fellow orators, not that we come out against the Congress or the 
Amarican Liberties, but when ever we are Convinctto the Contory 
we are Redy to goine our Amarican Brieathen to defend by armes 
against the Hostile attempts of the British fleets and Armies. 

Amos Boorn, Luke Cass, 

JeabTs Ballou, Anthony Harris, 

Enoch White, Uriah Harris, 

William Cook, Martin Ellis, 

Annanias Aldrich, Oliver Mason, 

Thomas Horten, Simson Thayer. — 12. 



SECOND CENSUS, 1775. 

The number of the Inhabitence of the town of Richmond is as 
followeth : — 

Mails under 16 years of Age, 2S0 

Mails from 16 of Age to 50 not in the Army, 143 

All mails above 50 years of Age, 16 

Persons gone in the Army, • . 26 

All Females, 395 

Negroes & Slaves for Life, o 

860 

Guns fit for use, 56 

Powder, • . 5 lb. ■ 

The number of fire-arms wanting, 88 ^ 

The above Account taken by Us Sept. 23, 1775, 

William Goddard, % 

Enoch White, > Selectmen. 

Daniel Read, J 

1776. A Committee of Safety, Inspection, and Cor- 
respondence was chosen Jan. 29, 1776, consisting of 
Isaac Benson, Michael Barrus, Constant Barney, of 
Safety and Inspection ; Israel Whipple, James Kings- 
ley, Amos Garnsey, of Correspondence. 

These were chosen to act in conjunction with the 
provincial committees of the same name, the object of 
which was to keep the government fully apprised 



64 HISTORY OF THE 

of the true condition of the popular cause, and to act 
as auxiliaries to the authorities in prosecuting the 
war. Voted at the meeting of January 29, " Not to 
raise powder money voted last spring." 

A company, largely recruited in Winchester, was 
in the service in August, 1776, for the purpose of 
repelling a threatened attack on our northern frontier. 
In this company the names of seventeen Richmond 
men are found, inscribed " In a roll of Capt. Wm. 
Humphrey's Company, in the northern army, in the 
Continental Service, as mustered and paid by Samuel 
Ashley, Esq., Muster-master and Paymaster of said 
Company," which roll may be found in the archives of 
the State at Concord. 



NAMES OF THE RICHMOND MEN IN THE WINCHESTER 
COMPANY. 

Israel Whipple, 2d Lieut. ; Daniel Whipple, Corp. ; Benjamin 
Ellis, Sergt. ; John Woolej, Drummer ; Privates Zebulon Streeter, 
Henry Ellis, Amos Hicks, Asa Hicks, Azariah Cumstock, Jr., 
Oliver Garnsej, Amos Garnsey, Simpson Hammond, Ebenezer 
Peters, James Tilson, John Garnsey. Jr., Moses Cumstock, Daniel 
Freeman. 

The following names appear in a Swansey com- 
pany, as contained in a roll of John Houghton's 
company, in Col. Baldwin's regiment, for New York, 
mustered and paid b}' James Hammond, Esq., muster 
and paymaster of said company, Sept. 22, 1776, 
viz. : — 

Daniel Shearman, Allis Thayer, James Cook, David Barney, 
Jonathan Kingsley, Abiel Knap, Barnard Hicks, James Westcoat, 
Caleb Ellis. 

Timothy Martin and Jesse Martin were in Col. 
Daniel Moore's regiment, which marched to the de- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 65 

fence of New York, agreeable to a requisition of 
nineteenth day of December, 1776. Jesse Martin 
may have lived in Warwick at this time. 

Joseph Allen was in the 2d Regiment of the Con- 
tinental army, in New York, Sept. 16, 1776- 

Benjamin Starkey, brother of Joseph, was in the 
service about two years. He became an invalid, and 
obtained Jeremiah Barrus as a substitute. 

1777. —WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 

The following were chosen this year on the Com- 
mittee of Safety, Inspection, and Correspondence : 
Michael Barrus, Israel Whipple, Amos Garnsey, 
Peter Holbrook, and Joseph Cass. At the annual 
meeting the town refused " to augment the bounty of 
^sucli soldiers as would volunteer to go in the expedi- 
tion to Canada." 

May 16. Voted, Tliat eight months constitute a Turn in the 
service, and that a bounty of twelve pounds be given for said 
service. 

V^oted, Also, that all who have done Turns, or parts of Turns, in 
the war, to have credit in the rates. 

Voted, To allow the men their expenses, and pay for their time, 
that went to Cambridge on the alarm at time of the Concord light 
in the year 1775. 

Voted, To raise money to hire men to go into the service for 
eight months, or a longer time. Chose Isaac Benson, Capt. 
Capron, and Constant Barney, a committee to hire the men. 

Dec. 3. Voted, To increase the bounty to soldiers to twenty- 
four pounds, instead of twelve, for a Turn, or eight months, to be 
allowed in the rates. 

SERVICE PERFORMED IN 1777. 

In Capt. Davis Howlett's company, of Col. Ash- 
ley's regiment, which marched from Keene, May 4, 



66 HISTORY OF THE 

1777, to reinforce the Continental army at Fort 
Ticonderoga, were Lieut. Edmund Ingalls, Timothy- 
Robinson, Ebenezer Barrus, Sylvanus Cook, John 
Ellis, Jonathan Kingsley, Israel Peters, Peletiah 
Razey, John Wooley, Jonathan Westcoat. These 
were probably all from Richmond. 

In June, 1777, nearly a whole company was 
enlisted in Richmond for special service on the 
northern frontier, the object of which was to relieve 
Fort Ticonderoga, then under command of General 
St. Clair, from the threatened attack of General Bur- 
goyne, whose forces were approaching the place. 
The company was mustered in at Winchester on the 
twenty-ninth of- June, and from thence marched one 
hundred and twenty miles to Ticonderoga, there to 
find that the fort had been evacuated on the fifth of 
July, and was then in possession of the British, 
and that the American army was on its retreat 
towards Fort Edward. x\s the company enlislcd 
solely for the relief of Ticonderoga, and as this 
special duty had been performed so far as prac- 
ticable, they concluded not longer to continue the 
march, but they returned at once to tlieir homes, 
having travelled two hundred and forty miles, and 
received for their services the sum of £208 17s. 8d. 

The following roll of the company may be found 
in the Department of State, at Concord : — 

A Muster If oil of Capt. Oliver Capron''s Company, in Col. Samuel 

Ashley s Regiment of Alilitia, -vliick marched to the relief of 

Ticonderoga., Jjyj : 

Capt. Oliver Capron, Lieut. Ilenry Ingalls, Ensign Rufiis 

Whipple, Sergt. Solomon Atherton, Sergt. Michael Barms, Corp. 

John Ellis, Drummer John Wooley; Privates David liarnev, David 

Hix, Samuel Ilix, Simeon Hix, Seth Bailou, Reuben Parker, 

IJliphalet llix, Jeremiah Bullock, Stephen Kempton, Benjamin 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



67 



Ini^alls, JeftVey Amherst Barney, David Russell, Benjamin Thrasher, 
Jonathan Bosworth, Philip Aldrich, Peter Ilulbrook, Asel Harris, 
Abner Aldrieh, Samuel Carpenter, James Cook, Constant Barney, 
Oliver Barrus, Eli Page, Daniel Thurber, John Barrus, Othnial 
Day, William Goddard, James Shafter, Ilezekiah Thurber, Samuel 
Hunting, Israel Whipple. '> , - . 

In this company were twenty-three others from 
Winchester, Warwick, and other places. Soon after 
their return, quite a number of this company re- 
enHsted in a Winchester company, as appears on "A 
Pay-Roil of Capt. Samuel Wright's Company, in Col. 
Nichols' Regiment, and General Stark's Brigade of 
Militia, which Company marched from Winchester, in 




TROPHIES OF BENNINGTON. 



the State of New Hampshire, and joined the Northern 
Continental Army at Bennington and Stillwater, July 
23' 1777 '■< including their travel home, allowing one 
day's pay for every twenty miles," which roll may be 
found in the State Department at Concord. This 
company was raised to check General Burgoyne in 
his march from Canada to New York by way of Lake 
Champlain and the Hudson River, and whose object 



68 HISTORY OF THE 

in this was to sever New England from the other col- 
onies. His march had been triumphant until a part of 
his army, under General Baum, was defeated at Ben- 
nington (August i6) by the Americans under General 
Stark, and again defeated at Stillwater, September 19, 
and on October 7, was fought the second battle of 
Stillwater (or Saratoga), when his whole army was 
surrendered as prisoners of war to the American 
forces. Now, this Winchester company was at the 
battle of Bennington, under General Stark, and in 
the first battle of Stillwater, September 19, and did 
good service to the American cause, and were honor- 
ably discharged September 24, and were paid for two 
months and two days service, the pay of the privates 
per month being £4 14s., Continental money. 
In this company were the following names, viz. : 

Lieut. Henry Ingalls, Sergt. John Ellis, Corp. Samuel Hicks; 
Privates Benjamin Ingalls, Eli Page, Eliphalet Hicks, James 
Shafter, Jeremiah Bosworth, James Cook, Jonathan Kingsley, 
JeftVey Barney, Jeremiah Barrus, Joseph Ingalls, James Westcoat, 
John Wooley, Nathan Bullock, Peletiah Razey, Peter Starkey, 
Simeon Hicks, Reuben Parker. 

Lieut. Henry Ingalls was wounded at the battle of 
Bennington, as we are informed by his grand-daugh- 
ter, Mrs. Eliza B. Garfield. 

1778. January 14th, of this year, the town adopted 
the policy of extending the time of enlistment, as ap- 
pears by the following vote : — 

Voted, To raise men for the Continental Service for fhe duration 
of this present war with Great Britain, or three years. 

Chose Rufus Whipple, Edmond Ingalls, and Mr. Nicholas Cook 
;>. committee to hire said men. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 69 

At the annual meeting — 

Voted, That the Committee of Safety stand another year, or 
until another is chosen. 

June 15. Voted, Not to increase the bounty put on by the State. 

Voted, To raise three men to serve until the first of January next, 
unless sooner discharged. 

Chose John Barrus, Daniel Read and James Westcoat a commit- 
tee to hire the men, and to pay the sum or sums the committee 
shall give for said men. 

The committee chosen January 14 to hire men for 
the service, of which Rufus Whipple was chairman, 
succeeded in obtaining the following recruits for two 
years, as appears by the following return : — 

Walpole, Febuary 13th, 177S. 

This is to Sartifie the town of Richmond that Rufus Whipple 
hath got mustered Thirteen men for the town of Richmond to Sarve 
two years in the Conental Sarvis. 

Peleg Williams, Lieut. ; Jona. Willard, Esq. ; Samuel Royes, Asa 
Crasson, Henry Carter, Joseph Powers, Nathaniel Powers, Abner 
Powers, John Symonds, Noah Porter, John Withy, Lewis Clisco, 
John Smith, Jeams Wier, Thomas Hunt, Jeams Marrel, William 
Taggart. 

In the foregoing list are fifteen names, the first two 
of which may have been intended for witnesses, per- 
haps ; but evidently none were Richmond men. 
This completes the record of the town so far as 
known in this war, for the year 1778- 

1779. — July 6, of this year, the town chose Capt. 
Oliver Capron, Jonathan Atherton, and Benjamin 
May, a committee to hire men to fill the town quota 
for the Continental army, and to go to Rhode Island. 

Sept. 6. looted. Not to allow the men credit that have done 
more than their proportion in the war witii Great Britain. 

Oct. 21. Voted, For the General Court to hire one man for said 
Richmond that is wanting for the Continental Army for one year. 



^O HISTORY OF THE 

The above brief record comprises all that now 
appears of the doings of the town as pertaining to the 
war in 1779. It is sufficient to know, however, that 
the town had filled its quotas, with the exception 
of one man that was "wanting" on the twenty-first 
day of October ; but how many men the commis- 
sioners hired, and who they were, we may never 
know. 

1780. June 28, the town was called upon to furnish 
six men for General Washington's army, and a commit- 
tee consisting of Isaac Benson, Israel Whipple, and 
Daniel Read, was chosen to hire the men for six 
months. They were empowered to engage silver, 
paper currency, or specie. 

July 5. "Chose Isaac Benson, Israel Whipple, and 
David Barney a committee to hire twelve men to go 
into the service." This committee was authorized "to 
hire men to go into the service if more are called for 
before our next annual meeting," and empowered to 
"give security to the men the}' shall hire to go into the 
service, in silver money or paper currency or specie, 
as the}' shall think proper." Thus it appears that the 
town was called upon to furnish at least eighteen 
men for the Continental army in the year 1780, but 
whether these quotas were filled does not appear. 

1781. — Feb. 7. "Then chose Isaac Benson, Israel 
Whipple, and David Barney, to hire the twelve men 
sent for." There is no positive evidence by which we 
can determine whether this was a new call or the 
quota of the year before remaining unfilled, but prob- 
ably the former. 

At the annual meeting it was voted to pay Enoch 
White ten pounds " old way " for " his mare that was 
lost in the time of the evacuation of Ticonderoga, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 7 1 

that the town took iVom him " ; and voted to pa}-^ him 
twenty shillings ' old way ' for his saddle and bridle. " 

May 2. Voted, That the soldiers that went from this town into 
the service last year shall receive their bounty and wages from this 
town out of money that was assessed under New Hampshire, and 
the remainder be for this town to defray town charges. 

The reason why the words " assessed under New 
Hampshire " were used in the foregoing vote was 
that the town, on the nineteenth of March, 1781, had 
voted " unanimously to join the State of Vermont," 
and, in consequence of this transfer of allegiance, the 
town proposed to retain the state tax mone}^ due New 
Hampshire, and use the same for the purpose set 
forth in the above vote. 

June 4, 1781, at a town meeting called "in the 
name of the State of Vermont, Washington Ss.," it 
was — 

Voted., To raise fourteen men under the State of Vermont. 
Chose Edmontl Ingalls, Rufus Whipple, and Noah Curtis a com- 
mittee to hire said men, and to proceed in that method they shall 
think most to the advantage of said town. 

At the same time — 

Voted ^ For all the horses that went on the alarm last fall be paid 
for at the usual rate. 

July 13, 1781, at a meeting called in the name of 
the "State of Vermont", held at Hezekiah Man's barn, 
under an article in the warrant " To see what the town 
thinks proper to do with the money in the select- 
men's hands, as the soldiers refuse to take it for their 
wages," 

Voted., For the Selectmen to make the best advantage they can of 
the Continental Money that is in their hands, and in the Constable's 
hands, that belongs to said town, that the soldiers refuse to take. 



72 HISTORY OF THE 

Also, at the same time, it was — 

Voted, Not to raise the Continental Men under New Hampshire. 

Voted, That Amos Boorn and Jonathan Sweet shall have pay for 
their guns that was taken from them in the year 1775, and that 
Boorn and Sweet be allowed one hundred for one in their rates. 

1782. — Richmond, together with other New Hamp- 
shire towns that had joined Vermont the year before, 
was obliged to resume its former relationship to New 
Hampshire, in consequence of the act of Vermont in 
accepting the Connecticut River as the eastern 
boundary of the State. Having no officers duly 
qualified by law to call a town meeting, Samuel 
Ashley, Esq., of Winchester, issued a warrant for 
that purpose, April 19, for a town meeting to be 
held at Hezekiah Man's, May 6, 1782. At this 
meeting it was — 

Voted, To proceed to raise twelve Continental men. 

Whether this was a new call or an unfilled quota at 
the time the town seceded, we are unable to deter- 
mine. At any rate, it was the last recorded action of 
the town in the matter of raising men for the service 
in the war of the Revolution, as the surrender of 
General Cornwallis and his army at Yorktown, Va., 
on the nineteenth of October of that year, virtually 
closed the war, and hence no more soldiers were 
wanted. 

Nov. 4, 1782, at a town meeting held at the Baptist 
meeting-house, it was — 

Voted, Not to pay John Scott for a pair of horses that the select- 
men took from him in the alarm of 1777. 

By examination of the foregoing pages, it will be 
seen that the people had rendered important service 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 73 

in the companies of militia that had been raised pre- 
vious to 1778. After this time the theatre of the war 
was transferred from the more eastern section to the 
middle and southern states. Hence men, whose 
domestic duties would not permit a long absence, 
were restrained from marching to the scenes of strife 
in distant parts. More difficulty was experienced in 
filling the town quotas during the last years of the 
war, caused in part by the depreciation of the Conti- 
nental money, but more largely, perhaps, by reason 
of the reverses that had attended the American army 
in the middle and southern states. The Vermont 
controvers}^ by causing a divided allegiance of the 
town for a time, together with the animosity and 
hatred engendered thereby towards New Hampshire, 
may have prevented the prompt filling of the last 
calls made under New Hampshire ; as also did this 
unfortunate occurrence cause the town to withhold 
the New Hampshire state tax, levied for the purpose 
of carrying on the war. But admist all the reverses, 
perplexities, and controversies of the time, the record 
of the town is honorable for the unwavering fidelity 
manifested throughout for the cause of liberty and in- 
dependence. While we believe that the list is quite 
full and complete of those that performed service 
in the militia companies that volunteered at various 
times, we feel confident that some Richmond men 
were in the Continental army of which we have no 
trace. It is quite probable that many of those whose 
names appear in the militia companies were soldiers 
in the Continental army some time during the war. 
In addition to those afore-named in the army, we find 
the following names : Eleazer Martin, Barnard Hix, 
Caleb Thayer, and William Green, the latter coming 



74 



HISTORY OF THE 



to town a long time alter the war closed. The first 
three of these died of wounds, or disease contracted 
in the service. 

MEN IN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY. 

As appears on the rolls at Concord, Richmond was 
represented as follows : — 

In 1777 — Continental men, 15, paid .... £465 

1778 " " 13, " .... 555 I2S. 

1779 " " 5, "... . 180 
17S1 — Frontiersmen,. .15, " .... 162 los. 

CANNON TAKEN THROUGH TOWN. 

Some of the cannon used at the battle of Benning- 
ton were transported from Boston through Richmond, 
on tlie old road over Devil-stair hill, and by the John 
Cass tavern, and it is reported that the sound of the 




cannonading was distinctl}" heard in Richmond by 
Jacob Bump and others on the day of the battle, 
Aug. 16, 1777. 



REVOLUTIONARY DOCUMENTS IN THE STATE- 
ARCHIVES AT CONCORD. 



Barnard Hix. 



State of \ 
Nrw Hamp'r. ' 



In House of Representatives, Aug't 20th, 177S. 
The Committee on sick and wounded soldiers, &c., reported that 
havina; taken under consideration the account of Jane Hix for the 



TOWX OF RICHMOND. 75 

funeral expenses of her husband, Barnard Ilix, who died a soldier 
when belonging to Capt. Stoughton's Company in Col. Baldwin's 
Regiment, which account amounts to four pounds, eleven shillings 
and eight pence, are of opinion that the amount of said account 
be allowed and paid out of the Treasury. 

(Signed) GEO. KING, 

For the Committee. 

Whicii report being read and considered — 

Voted, That the same be received and accepted, and that the 
President give order accordingly. 

Sent up for concurrence. 

JOHN DUDLEY, Speaker /ro tern. 
In Council, Aug't 21st, 1778. 

Read and concurred. 

E. THOMPSON, Sec'y. 

Eleazer Martin. 

State of ) 
New Hamp'r. ' 

In House of Representatives, Nov'r 12th, 1788. 
The Committee on Petitions of sick and wounded soldiers re- 
ported their opinion that Eleazer Martin, a soldier in Capt. Ellis' 
Company and Col. Scammell's Regiment, wounded at the battle 
near Saratoga, Sept. 19th, 1777, be allowed and paid for his doctor's 
bill six pounds and four shillings, and that he is entitled to half- 
pa}', agreeable to resolve of Congress, and that he be entered on 
Roll accordingly, commencing Jan. ist, 177S. All which is humbly 
submitted. 

(Signed) NICHL. GILMAN, 

For the Committee. 
Which report being read and considered — 

Voted, That the same be received and accepted, and the President 
give order of payment to Mr. Daniel Read. 



REVOLUTIONARY DOCUMENTS. 
Depreciation of tJie Currency., lyjg. 

The j^overnment, in order to carry on the war of 
the Revolution, was oblii^ed to issue bills of credit 
known as Continental mone}'. This, with the state 



76 



HISTORY OF THE 



scrip, constituted the circulating medium of exchange 
during the war. The longer the war continued the 
more the money depreciated, until the ratio of this 







mU' 



THISBOleiititlesiU 

SIX SPANISH MltLED 
DOLLARS, or the 
'Valu£ thereof in GOLD 
^I'SIJJVEK-iccardXne to 
a-Resoiation of COX'= 
GRESS puBiidaiPhi. 
ladelphiaNov-Z- IJ/S' 



mam^mMi- 









CONTINENTAL CURRENCY. 



scrip to silver was as a hundred to one. The follow- 
ing tax, assessed in 1779, illustrates more fully the 
great depreciation at that time, viz. : — 

£ s. (f. /. 

ist Continental Tax Bill, i>i74 7 6 

State Tax Bill, 782 iS 6 

2d Continental Tax Bill, 3»523 2 6 

County Tax Bill, 68 19 10 i 

Town Tax assessed, 4>4io 18 o 

School Tax, . . • 300 o o 

Highway Tax, 800 o o 

Total, It, 060 6 4 I 

At the annual meeting, 1779, it was — 

Voted, That the pay for working on the highways be $5 a day 
for a man, 15s. for oxen, and los. for a cart. 

The depreciation in 1780 was still greater, as' 
appears by the amount granted for schooling, which 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 77 

Depreciation in lySo. 

was £600, and for highways £2,400, equivalent to 
$3,000 and $12,000, respectively, for these two pur- 
poses ; and for a bounty on a wolf's head, £60 was 
offered, equal to $300 in paper. 

STATING THE PRICE OF ARTICLES. 
The Town Fixes the Price of Merchandise. 

The people were obliged to resort to legislation to 
protect themselves against the exorbitant demands of 
traders and others having articles to sell, when payment 
was made in Continental or state scrip ; and agree- 
able to an act that had been passed, authorizing the 
several towns to fix the prices at which articles 
should be sold by publishing a list thereof with 
prices affixed to the same, the town, on the sixteenth 
of May, 1777, chose Daniel Read, Henry Ingalls, 
and Amos Garnsey, a committee to " state articles 
specified in an act passed by this State, and to state 
all things that shall be thought proper by said Com- 
mittee ; to notify said articles in the town, and after 
publishing to be put in execution by all breaches of 
said act." 

The Town Action on Salt. 

One of the greatest inconveniences of the time, and 
largely the outgrowth of the war, was the scarcity 
and consequently the high price of salt. The 
urgency was considered so great by some that they 
had tlie matter brought before the town, Dec. 2, 
1776; but the town at that time evidently had so 
many burdens to bear that they — 

Voied. Not to act as a town concerning salt, 

having each to supply himself as best he could. 



78 HISTORY OF THE 

RECOMMENDATION FOR A READJUSTMENT OF THE 
CURRENCY, &c. 

At a Legal town meeting held in Richmond, the 31st day of 
August last, — 

Voted, To give our Representatives the following Instructions : 
To motion to the General Cort, at the Next Seting — first to not 
grant the Requisition of Congress, at present. Second to receive 
final settlements at six shillings and eight pence on the pound until 
the fifteenth of December next for all outstanding taxes. Third to 
call in all public securitys Drawing Interest that was issued by this 
state and Cut them into Certifjcats and said Certifycats to pay 
all state county and town taxes and to pay all Executions or to 
make paper money to Redeem said security and to answer the pur- 
poses aforesaid. 

Richmond, September 4th, A. D., 1786. 

HENRY INGALLS, Tozun Clerk. 

By the above it will be seen that the town in 17S6 
fixed on six shillings and eight pence, or one third of 
the amount appropriated under inflation, as a just 
basis in the settlement of back taxes. This recom- 
mendation in relation to " Certifycats " seems to be 
equivalent to the plan advocated by some at the 
present time, of paying all government bonds and 
dues in greenbacks. 

In closing this brief notice of the war of the Revo- 
lution, we would say that it is more than probable 
that much has been lost of the doings of Richmond 
men in this war ; the mist of one hundred years 
enshrouds the events of that period from our view. 
The personal experiences of the soldiers, their ad- 
ventures, accidents, and anecdotes, if spread upon 
these pages in connection with the dry detail of 
recorded service, would have given that variety in- 
dispensable to the completeness of an historical record 
of this kind. In the general summing up, it may be 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 79 

truly said that the town went bravely through the 
war, resolutely performing its duty. Whilst it suf- 
fered loss, endured hardship, and braved dangers, it 
was not seriously crippled in its resources, nor were 
its vital statistics at all impaired. The town was 
young and full of vitalit}'^ — was in the process of de- 
velopment and growth — hence its power of recupera- 
tion was both rapid and permanent. One of the 
results indirectly growing out of this service was a 
spirit of emigration, engendered by the soldiers who 
went on expeditions to Ticonderoga, Saratoga, and 
elsewhere, and on their return gave glowing accounts 
of the then North-West. 

Tiiese reports so full of promise, caused many to 
pull up stakes and leave. Numbers went to Vermont 
and New York soon after, seeking for cheaper and 
better lands. 

But few of the descendants of the Revolutionary 
soldiers are now in the town. The following list of 
soldiers comprises all that are known to have any de- 
scendants herein, viz. : Capt. Oliver Capron, Heze- 
kiali Thurber, Jeremiah Barrus, Jeremiah Thayer, 
Michael Barrus, Seth Ballou, Oliver Barilis, William 
Goddard, James Shafter, and Peter Starkey. 

It will be seen that Richmond and Winchester 
acted largely together in the militia service they ren- 
dered during the Revolutionary war. Winchester 
soldiers joined Captain Capron's company in 1775, 
and Richmond soldiers were in Captain Humphries' 
and in Captain Wright's companies in 1776 and 
1777. This indicates a fraternal feeling existing 
between the two towns at that time, and the same is 
probably true during all the time since. This town 
has ever had more trade and intercourse with Win- 



8o 



HISTORY OF THE 



Chester than with other towns ; and, at the present 
time Richmond is quite fully represented in the popu- 
lation of Winchester, and it may fairly be presumed 
that the latter town has gained by the acquisition. 

THE WOMEN OF SEVENTY-SIX. 

The women who shared with the men of the Revo- 
lutionary period in the toils, privations, and difficulties 
attendant on a new settlement in the wilderness, to- 
gether with the additional burden of a long and 




BELI.ES OF '76. 

exhaustive war, are entitled to special mention. 
When the husbands and fathers were away in the 
service, the care of the household and farm largely 
fell upon them. The family must have been quite de- 
pendent for support on the labor of the soldiers, as no 
state aid was regularly furnished (as in the late war) to 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 8l 

the needy and destitute ones. The self-sacrifices made 
by the women of this period would, undoubtedly, 
make an interesting chapter of the times, if the 
incidents pertaining to the same could be snatched 
from that oblivion to which they have been mostly 
consigned. The foregoing cut, representing the 
"Belles of Seventy-six," may not be wholly appli- 
cable to the women of our town in all the toilet 
arrangements therein exhibited, but it may be safely 
assumed that in their " go-to-meeting fixings" they 
were not inferior, either in natural charms or in 
fashionable dress, to others of that time, for which 
this cut is a fit representation. 



82 HISTORY OF THE 



CHAPTER III. 

THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS, AND THE 
VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 

The New Hampshire Grants — The Masonian Line, and the Vermont Controversy — 
Time of Annual Meeting Changed — Formation of Constitution of New Hamp- 
shire — Adoption of the Federal Constitution — Petition for Justice of the Peace — 
Sign-post and Stocks — Petitions for Exemption from Military Duty — Warning 
Out of Town — Glebe Lands — Bounties on Wild Animals and Birds. 

THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 

During the last years of the war ot" the Revolu- 
tion, Richmond, together with a number of towns in 
the counties of Cheshire and Grafton, entered into a 
vexatious and an unfortunate alliance with the state 
of Vermont, which state had declared her indepen- 
dence, but had not been admitted into the union of 
the confederate states. These towns were within 
the territory known at the time as the "New Hampshire 
Grants," which term was applied to all the towns 
granted by New Hampshire west of the Masonian 
claim, which was so called from Capt. John Mason, 
one of the original proprietors of the Province of 
New Hampshire. The line defining the western 
boundary of this claim extended, as finally settled, 
sixty miles westerly and northerly from the sea, and 
by survey was established as running from a point on 
the state line in Rindge, in a north-easterly direction, 
to a point at the same distance from the sea on the 
eastern boundary of the state. The territory in- 
cluded herein was the original New Hampshire, as 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



83 



contained in Mason's grant, and all towns outside 
granted by the governor of the province were called 
the "New Hampshire Grants," embracing a large 
portion of the territory westward to the Green moun- 
tains, which was claimed as properly belonging to 
New Hampshire by a grant made subsequent to 




DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTION AT CORNISH. 



Mason's, extending the jurisdiction of the province to 
the Hudson River, This claim of jurisdiction on the 
part of New Hampshire was denied by New York, 
and the matter was referred to the king for linal 
settlement, who, in 1764, decreed that the western 
boundary of New Hampshire should be the Connec- 



84 HISTORY OF THE 

ticiit river. The towns on the New Hampshire 
grants east of the river probably would never have 
questioned the jurisdiction of New Hampshire if the 
matter of forming a new state had not arisen at this 
time, which constituted a plausible pretext for trans- 
ferring their allegiance to another state. This agita- 
tion began soon after the Declaration of Independence 
was declared, or in 1777, which declaration had the 
effect, as they argued, not only to absolve the towns 
on these grants from all allegiance to the Crown of 
Great Britain, but also to release them from all pre- 
existing political connections, reducing them, as they 
termed it, to a " state of nature," in which it was their 
right and privilege in the future to unite with such 
body politic as would be most conducive to their 
prosperity and happiness. Certain misleading and in- 
flammatory articles, published about this time, ema- 
nating from Dartmouth college, whose faculty were 
anxious to bring the capital of the state to Hanover — 
in which articles the above view was presented with 
much force and ingenuity, together with other specious 
arguments used therein, tending to alienate the people 
of these towns from the state, had the effect in- 
tended so far as to cause a movement to be made on 
the part of a number of towns to sever their connec- 
tion with New Hampshire and unite with Vermont ; 
and for the furtherance of this plan, various conven- 
tions were held at Walpole, Charlestown, Cornish, 
and other places, beginning about 1777. In these, 
Richmond was usually represented by one or more 
delegates. In 1778, sixteen towns, mostly in Grafton 
county, united with Vermont and sent their represen- 
tatives to the General Assembly at Windsor ; but these 
soon withdrew in disgust on being refused the privi- 



TOWN OF RTCIIMOND. 85 

lege of forming a new county, and, retiring across the 
river to Cornish, met certain other representatives 
from the west side of the river, and jointly passed 
resolutions in favor of forming all the New Hamp- 
shire grants on both side of the river into a new state, 
to be called New Connecticut. 

This new scheme met with so little favor from 
Congress and the adjoining states that the project 
was soon abandoned. In the meantime, Vermont 
became alarmed by reason of certain movements on 
the part of New Hampshire and New York, in which 
it was supposed that they were intriguing to divide 
Vermont between them by the ridge of mountains. 
Vermont, to offset this, laid claim to a part of New 
York and to the New Hampshire grants east of the 
river, and resolved to fight it out on that line in spite 
of Congress or anybody else ; and further intimated 
that if they were refused admission into the union as 
thus constituted, they should make the best terms pos- 
sible with the British government. Richmond, to- 
gether with a number of other towns east of the river, 
about this time, under a general invitation sent out 
by Vermont, went over to the new state. 

Richmond, March 19! 17S1. 
Voted. Unanimous to join Vermont. 

Daniel Cass and Silas Gaskill were chosen repre- 
sentatives to the General Assembly of that state. 

But this connection, hastily and inconsiderately 
made, was destined not long to continue. The Ver- 
mont assembly had adjourned trom Windsor to Ben- 
nington, and were in session at the latter place in the 
spring of 1782. The governor of Vermont had 
receiv^ed a letter from General Washinjjton, dated 



86 HISTORY OF THE 

Januaiy ist of that year, the contents of which he 
communicated to some influential members of the 
legislature, in which letter Washington counselled 
and advised the Vermonters to confine their claims of 
jurisdiction within reasonable limits, and that they 
accept the Connecticut river for the eastern boundary 
of their new state, intimating that coercion might be 
necessary if these recommendations were not com- 
plied with. This letter seems to have had the desired 
effect, for on the twenty-second of February the as- 
sembly, in the absence of the members from the east 
side of the river, passed a resolution defining the 
boundaries of the state as now constituted, the eastern 
boundary of which is, and ever since has been, the 
Connecticut river ; consequently, these members on 
their arrival were refused seats in the assembly, and 
no other alternative was left for them only to report 
to their several constituencies that their union with 
Vermont had gone forever. 

The part taken by the town in promoting this move- 
ment, by sending delegates to the various conven- 
tions held previous to annexation, appears by the 
following record: At the annual meeting, 1777, 
voted, "to choose Michael Barrus to go to Walpole ;" 
then " chose Joseph Cass, Israel Whipple, Daniel 
Read, Isaac Benson, and Rufus Whipple, to instruct 
said Barrus what to act at Walpole." The town 
again, in Januar}', 1778, "chose Michael Barrus a 
delegate to a convention at Surry of committees of 
the several towns," held January 21, and "chose a 
committee to instruct him, consisting of Oliver Capron, 
Constant Barney, Israel Whipple, Edmund Ingalls, 
and Rufus Whipple. In July, 1779, David Barney 
was chosen a delegate to a convention at Surry. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 87 

November 15, 1780, a convention of delegates from 
several towns in Cheshire count}^ was held at Wal- 
pole for the purpose of taking into consideration the 
grievances of the towns on the New Hampshire 
grants west of the Mason line. The convention 
recommended a union of all the New Hampshire 
grants on both sides of the Connecticut, under one 
government. Major Oliver Capron was a delegate 
to this convention. January 16, 1781, a convention 
was held at Charlestown of delegates from all the 
towns within the limits of the New Hampshire grants. 
This convention recommended to all these towns a 
union with Vermont, and then adjourned the conven- 
tion to Cornish, a town situated on the east side of the 
river, and only three miles from Windsor, where the 
Vermont assembly was in session. Richmond was 
represented in this convention by Major Oliver 
Capron, who opposed the proposed union ; and he, 
with eleven others, signed a protest against the pro- 
ceedings of the convention, and withdrew from fur- 
ther connection with it. Silas Gaskill and Daniel 
Cass were substituted for Capron, and met the other 
delegates to the adjourned convention at Cornish, 
where Feb. 22, 1781, articles of union were mutually 
confirmed by the legislature of Vermont and the con- 
vention at Cornish. The town, as before stated, at 
the annual meeting, March 19, 1781, ratified the 
compact, and the secession and union were supposed 
to be complete ; but, in the meantime. New Hamp- 
shire had never relinquished its right of jurisdiction 
over the seceding towns, consequently the inevitable 
result was' a conflict of authority between the oflficers 
of these states. In some towns the enforcement of 
the laws was attended by mobs and violence. In 



<50 HISTORY OF THE 

Cheshire county, Chesterfield, Keene, and Charles- 
town, were scenes of riot and disorder. In view of 
the alarming state of affairs, the governor of New 
Hampshire ordered the state militia to hold them- 
selves in readiness to march to the scenes of disturb- 
ance. The governor of Vermont, on the other hand, 
threatened to repel force by force ; but no collision 
between the armed forces of the states took place 
during this controversy, and the time soon arrived, as 
before related, when the seceding towns were sum- 
marily excluded from the jurisdiction of Vermont. 

Dr. Belnap, in his history of New Hampshire, in 
speaking of the termination of this unhappy contro- 
versy, says that " though cut off from their connection 
with Vermont, the revolted towns did not at once re- 
turn to a state of peace, but divisions and animosities 
which had so long subsisted, continued to produce 
disagreeable effects." 

Richmond then was left, in the spring of 1782, with 
no officers legall}^ qualified under the laws of New 
Hampshire to call a town meeting. In this emer- 
gency, application was made to Samuel Ashley, 
Esq., of Winchester, to issue his warrant for the 
same, as before related in the article treating of the 
war of the Revolution, of which the following is a 
copy of the preamble : — 

State of New Hampshire, 

County of Cheshire. 
Whereas, An application being made to me, Samuel Ashley, 
one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Cheshire, by a 
number of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Rich- 
mond in said County, requesting that a warrant might be granted 
for the purpose of calling an annual town meeting, they having 
lost their power of calling a town meeting agreeable to their 
charter, by reason of the disputes that have arisen in relation to 
Vermont. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 89 

The warrant, which was in the common form, 
notified and warned the treeholders and inhabitants 
to meet at tlie lioiise of Ilezekiah Man, May 6, 1782, 
which was held agreeably to the warrant, and by ad- 
journment to Mr. Man's barn, the town officers were 
chosen and other business for the current year trans- 
acted. 

The following conversation is supposed to have 
taken place at Winchester between Capt. Oliver 
Capron and Daniel Cass, on the return of the repre- 
sentatives from the assembly at Bennington : — 

Cafrou. How now, Mr. Cass ; has the assembly adjourned, or 
are you on a political furlough? 

Cass. Well, now, Friend Capron, thee is good for guessing; but 
then it is neither exactly, and partly both. The truth is, friend, 
we 've been put upon. 

Capron. Explain, Mr. Cass; you speak in enigmas. What's 
up.' 

Cass. What's up! Enough 's up, I assure thee, Friend Capron, 
when they tread on my toes and insult the dignity of the town. 
Why they finally turned their backs on us, and refused us seats in 
the assembly ! 

Capron. Kicked out, eh.? Well, perhaps they served you right, 
after all. How did it happen .' 

Cass. Happen ! Why they took advantage of our absence, and 
voted that the Connecticut should be their eastern boundary ; and 
thus shut us out. 

Capron. Well, you 're in a pickle, I see; but then it comes out 
as well as I expected. 'T is n't safe to break solemn and binding 
obligations for light and trivial causes. 

Cass. 'Nuf sed. Come, friend Gaskill, let's be going. 



REFUSED TO PAY THE STATE TAX. 

One of the outgrowths of the attempted union with 
Vermont was such a spirit of hostility towards New 
Hampshire on the part of the people of the town, as 
led them to extreme and unwarranted action in sub- 



pO HISTORY OF THE 

stantially refusing to pay the state tax, as they, at 
the annual meeting, 1781 — 

Voted, For the Constables to not send any money to New Hamp- 
shire till after the adjournment of our meeting. 

The town probably paid no tax to the state of Ver- 
mont for the year 1781, for on December 19, the 
town — 

Voted, Not to pay the taxes to Vermont until after the rising of 
the General Assembly at Bennington, and a sufficient time after to 
collect said taxes. , 

The New Hampshire tax was regarded as un- 
reasonable and unjust: but New Hampshire, never 
having relinquished her jurisdiction, demanded the 
payment of the tax the same as if no controversy had 
arisen. The following action of the town at a meet- 
ing held Dec. 23, 1782, illustrates more full}^ the 
stand they took. On an article in the warrant — 

To see if the town will stand by the Constables and Selectmen 
and clear them from any cost that may arise from any Extent that 
may be sent against the town for back taxes, except their equal pro- 
portion of said cost. 

Voted, To stand by the said Constables and Selectmen ; but any- 
one who should pay his tax before the Extents come should be free 
of costs. 

THE TIME OF HOLDING THE ANNUAL MEETING 
CHANGED. 

At the annual meeting, 1779, — 

Voted, To send a petition to the General Coart to have our an- 
nual meeting held for the future on the first Monday of March 
annually. 

The following is a copy of the petition and the 
action of the General Court on the subject matter : — 



TOWN OP' RICHMOND. 9I 

State of New Hampshire. 
To the Honorable Council and House of Representatives conveti'd 
at Exeter in said State : 
The Piajer of _your Humble Petitioners sheweth, that at our Last 
annual March meetin the town of Richmond Voted to petition your 
Honors, would take it into jour wise consideration and grant us 
the privilege to hold our annual meeting on the first Monday of 
March annually, as the last Wednesday in March is the season of 
the year that We make " Shugar." As your Humble Petitioners in 
duty Bound shall ever pray in Behalf of the town. 
Richmond, Oct. ye 20th, 1779. 

HENRY INGALLS, 

To-Mn Clerk. 

State of New Hampshire. 

In the House of Representatives, Nov. 5, 1779 

The above petition being read and considered — 
Voted, That the Prayer thereof be granted, and that the Petition- 
ers have leave to bring in a Bill accordingly. 
Sent up for Concurrence. 

JOHN LANGDON, Speaker. 
In council the same day, read and concurred. 

E. THOMPSON, Secfy. 

The town meetings continued to be held on the first 
Monday of March until the revision of the Constitu- 
tion in 1791, when, by statute, the second Tuesday 
was affixed for the choice of state and count}' officers, 
and has to the present time been the legal day for the 
annual town meeting. 

THE FORMATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW 
HAMPSHIRE. 

New Hampshire, unlike any other of the thirteen 
colonies, had at the time of the breaking out of the 
war of the Revolution, no constitution or body of 
laws for the due government of the province. Many 
of the states had charters granted by the king, which 



92 HISTORY OF THE 

contained all the needed rules and regulations for 
their government, but New Hampshire had no 
charter. The whole government of the province 
was lodged in the hands of a governor appointed by 
the king, and a legislative body, consisting of repre- 
sentatives of about forty towns in the east part of the 
state, called the council. In September, 1775, the gov- 
ernor, John Wentworth, who adhered to the royal cause , 
sailed away in a British frigate to Nova Scotia, leav- 
ing the administration of government in the hands of 
the council. In this emergency the council applied 
to Congress for advice and direction, and in return 
that body, on November 3, 1775, recommended — 

The calling of a full and free representation of the people, and 
that the representatives, if they think it necessary, establish such a 
frame of government as in their judgment will best promote the 
happiness of the people, and most efFectuallv secure peace and good 
order in the Province during the continuance of the dispute be- 
tween Great Britain and the Colonies. 

The recommendation of Congress was at once 
adopted, and the representatives of the several towns 
met December 21. To this congress, as it was 
called, no representative was sent from Richmond. 
The body thus assembled " took up civil government 
for the colony," and formed a constitution containing 
about a dozen articles. Under this constitution, the 
first council and assembly were chosen, and met at 
Exeter, Dec. 18, 1776, and Richmond sent Capt. 
Oliver Capron representative to the same. In i779' 
a " grand convention " was called to frame a new 
constitution, which met at Concord, June 10, 1779; 
Richmond was again represented in this by Capt. 
Oliver Capron. The form of government and body 
of laws presented to the several towns was rejected 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 93 

by a majority of the towns, Richmond being among 
the number, whose vote was seventy-five against and 
none in favor. In 1782 another convention was 
called, of which David Barney of Richmond was a 
member, for the purpose of forming a new consti- 
tution for the state. The constitution emanating from 
this body was adopted by a majority of the towns, but 
Richmond, at first, smarting under its late experience 
in joining Vermont, was not disposed to adopt the 
plan of government presented by the convention. At 
a meeting held Dec. 12, 1782, a committee of seven was 
chosen to examine the plan of government, consisting 
of Rufus Whipple, Ezra Allen, Silas Gaskill, Ed- 
mond Ingalls, David Barney, Nicholas Cook, and 
Joseph Cass. This committee, it is supposed, re- 
ported adversely to acceptance, and the town voted 
" Not to accept the plan presented," the vote standing 
seven in favor to sixty against. At the annual meet- 
ing, 1783, the town voted " To remain under the 
present Constitution till the tenth day of June, 1784." 
At a meeting held Aug. 26, 1783, they took up the 
subject again, and chose David Barney, Ezra Allen, 
Isaac Benson, Rufus Whipple, Oliver Capron, Aaron 
Aldrich, and James Kingsley to consider the plan of 
government, and make return at some future time. 
This committee probably reported in favor of adop- 
tion, and the town, at a meeting held Oct. 14, 1783, 
by a vote of seventy-six in favor and none against, 
came into line with the other towns under the state 
constitution, which remained unaltered until 1793, 
when a convention for its revision was held at Con- 
cord, beginning Sept. 7, 1791, in which Rufus 
Whipple, Esq., was a delegate from this town. The 
amendments proposed by this convention were subse- 



94 



HISTORY OF THE 



quently adopted, and the constitution, as amended, 
remained unchanged until 1842, when another con- 
vention was held at Concord for its revision, and 
Richmond was represented in the same by Kendall 
Fisher, Esq. 

ADOPTION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. 

A convention for the adoption of the Federal con- 
stitution was held at Exeter, Feb. 13, 1788, and by ad- 
journment to Concord, June 18, of the same year, in 




which Richmond was represented by Jonathan Gas- 
kill, whose name appears among the list of nays in 
the final vote on the main question for adoption. 
The vote stood, fifty-seven yeas and forty-seven nays. 



THE P^IRST JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONTEST 
FOR RE-APPOINTMENT. 

Henry Ingalls was probably the first justice of the 
peace in town. He was recommended as a suitable 
person for the office at a town meeting held at the 
house of Abner Aldrich, July 15, 1776. Before this 
time, people went to Winchester, largely for the 
acknowledgment of deeds, etc. Either his commis- 
sion expired about 1781, or else on account of the 
part he took in the Vermont controversy, he was 



TOWN OF RICII^^OND. 95 

deprived of the office, and the town was left without 
a justice. 

The town, at the annual meeting, 1782, "Voted 
and recommended Henry Ingalls to be a suitable per- 
son for a justice of the peace of said town," and it is 
probable that a petition numerously signed for him 
was sent to the governor and council for his re- 
appointment, but for some reason unknown — but 
most likely because he had been favorable to a union 
with Vermont — the prayer of the petitioners was not 
granted. The friends of Major Oliver Capron, learn- 
ing the cause of Ingalls' defeat, and believing that it 
was a favorable time to secure the appointment of a 
justice of the peace in the west part of the town, at 
once pressed the claims of Capron, against whom no 
such objections could be brought as had been used 
against Ingalls, for Capron had ever been firm in his 
opposition to the union with Vermont. The follow- 
ing petition appears to have been favorably received 
by the governor and council, and he received his 
commission as justice of the peace accordingly : — 

PETITION FOR OLIVER CAPRON. 

State of New Hampshire. 
To the Honorable Council and House of Rreprcsentativcs in Gen- 
eral Court Assembled : 
The Prayer of us, the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the town of 
Richmond in said State, Humbly shows, that since the difficulty sub- 
sisted on account of a Number of People calling themselves a new 
State Called Vermont, the town of Richmond hath labored under 
many inconveniences by reason of having no Justice of the Peace 
in Town. These are therefore Humbly to Inform the Honorable 
Coart that Major Oliver Capron is a man of an established good 
character in this and the Towns Round where he is acquainted 
and that he is a man that has ever been firm for the Government of 
New Hampshire against the Fserpation of Vermont, and we 
Humbly Conceive a man every way accomplished and Capable of 
performing the business and trust of a Justice of the Piece, and that 



96 HISTORY OF THE 

it will be a public benefit that he may be appointed accordingly. 
These are therefore Humbly to pray the Honorable Coart to in- 
quire into the aft'air and act thereon as you in your Wisdom shall 
think proper and as in Duty bound shall ever pray. 
September the third, 1782. 

Barnabas Threesher, Moses Cooley, 
Benjamin Threesher, James Kingsley, 

Thomas Dillingham, William Goddard, 

Jeremiah Thayer, Jona. Atherton, 

Jeremiah Thayer, Jun'r, Peter Holbrook,v 
Nehemiah Thayer, Othniel Day. 

Alles Thayer, 

The people finding it very inconvenient to have the 
only justice of the peace of the town located at a 
corner thereof, made a second attempt to secure the 
re-appointment of Henry Ingalls in 1785, in which 
they were successful. Two petitions were gotten up 
for Ingalls, of which the following is a copy of the 
first, with the names of the signers thereto : — 

To his Excellency the President and the Honorable the Council of 
the State of Netv Hampshire : 

The Prayer of your Humble Petitioners of the town of Richmond 
in the County of Cheshire and State above said is that Henry 
Ingalls of said Richmond may be appointed and commissioned a 
Justice of the Peace, as he the said Ingalls has formerly served in 
that office to the good satisfaction of the town and county. And 
as Colonel Capron is already appointed a Justice of the Peace in 
said town, living at one corner of said town, it is very 111 Con- 
venient for the people in general in said town, that have business 
to do Before a Justice of the Peace to apply to him, and said Ingalls 
living near the middle of said town and on a Large Road, We your 
humble Petitioners Do think it would be Greatly to the advantage 
of said town to have him appointed. As We are in Duty Bound 
to Pray. 

Richmond, Oct. ist, A. D. 1785. 

Hezekiah Thurber, Nathan Bowen, 

Nathan Wooley, Nathan Wescot, 

Gideon Man, Jun'r, George Guillson, 

Amos Boorn, John Bolles, 

Nathan Ballou, George Martin, 



TOWN 0¥ RICHMOND. 



97 



Ebenezer Swan, 
John Bates, 
Paul Aldrich, 
Moses Martin, 
Jonathan Cass, 
esek buffum, 
Annias Aldrich, 
Nathaniel Aldrich, 
Nathan Aldrich, 
Anthony Sweet, 
Jonathan Sweet, Jun'r, 
James Cook, 
Samuel Gaskill, 
Ezra Allen, 
Gedeon Man, 
Oliver Mason, 
Jacob Bump, 
Stephen Guillson, 



Jems Ballou, 
Jems Wescot. 
William Cook, 
Nicholas Cook, 
Ebenezer Peters, 
Isaac Benson, 
Aaron Aldrich, 
Solomon Aldrich, 
Roval Aldrich, 
Peter Martin, 
LuEK Cass, 
Paul Handy, 
Joseph Wing, 
Moses Buffum, 
Thomas Bowen, 
John Wing, 
Joseph Streter. 



SECOND PETITION FOR HENRY INGALLS. 

To His Excellency, John Langdon, Esq., President iti and over the 
State of Ne'M Hampshire : 

The petition of the Inhabitants of Richmond, in the County of 
Cheshire, Humbly Sheweth that when the Late Constitution took, 
place, Henry Ingalls, Esq., was not Reappointed. We your Peti- 
tioners humbly Pray that the said Henry Ingalls may be Re- 
appointed and duly authorized to act as a Justice of the Peace for 
the County aforesaid, for that we your Petitioners Humbly conseive 
that he is a man agreeably (^lalified for that important service, 
and lives near the Senter of Public Business for the town, and also 
sutes the maners and costums of the People. And your Petitioners 
Humbly submit this Petition to your Excelencies Grace, Believing 
you Excelency in your grate Wisdom Will do the thing Right. As 
We in Duty Bound will Ever Pray. 

Richmond, October loth, A. D. 17S5. 

John Boyce, 
Nathan Boyce, 
Daniel Read, 
Abraham Man, 
Moses Read, 
David Barney, 
William Barney, 
John Garnsey, 
7 John Bools, 



Levi Morey, 
Darius Taft, 
Silas Taft, 
Edmund Ingalls, 
Paul Boyce, 
Cadis Boyce, 
Allen Grant, 
Jonathan Sweet. 



.9S 



HISTORY OF THE 



SIGN-POST AND STOCKS. 
At a meeting held June 4, 1784, the town 

Voted, That a sign post and stocks be set up in Hezekiah Man's 
yard, before his house or door. 

It is quite probable that the sign-post was really a 
whipping-post, as this and the stocks usually went 
together. The location of these may have been a 
few^ rods east of the old Baptist meeting-house, or be- 
fore the Bill Buffum house, both of which at the time 
belonged to Hezekiah Man. In colonial days these 




TOWN OF RICHMOND. 99 

appliances for the correction of criminals were com- 
mon ; but, except in some of the Southern states, these 
have long been disused, and are now generally con- 
sidered as the relics of barbarism. It is probable 
that they disappeared from before Mr. Man's door 
long before the recollection of any person now living. 

PETITION FOR EXEMPTION FROM MILITARY DUTY. 
To His Excellency the President and Senate, together xvitk the 
Representatives in General Court assembled at Exeter, in 
the State of Ne-w Hampshire : 
Most Honorable Gentlemen, — We the subscribers professing 
ourselves to be peaceable citizens of our Country, and having a de- 
sire to live in peace with all men, not having a desire to strike 
against the Laws or Government of our Legislators, but are will- 
ing to submit ourselves to the Laws and Governments of our 
Sujjeriors. Nevertheless we do most Ardently desire that your 
Honors would consider us as to the Melitia Act which as it now 
stands Demands of us that we do bare arms in order to Learn the 
art of War which thing, We do assure your Honors We do not 
come out against because we have any antipathy against our 
officers or Sivil Government, but finding ourselves to be under a 
Law of God and our minds being Led We trust by his unering 
Council We do assure your Honors that it is in point of conscience 
that We do not comply with the demands of our officers in this re- 
spect and We do Humbly request that the General Coart Held in 
and for our State would take it into their Deliberate Consideration 
and that there might be some Way opened Whereby We might be 
Exempted from doing that, that is so much against our Conscience 
as We do assure your honors. We cannot Comply with the request 
of our officers in bearing arms, Let come on us what may, there- 
fore We your humble Petitioners do ardently pray that you would 
grant unto us the Liberty of Conscience in this respect and We 
have in times past advised with the Honourable, General Sullivan 
who Recommended to us that if We had any distress made on our 
bodies or Estates to petition to the General Coart for redress which 
some of us have suffered in some measure also advised by our field 
officers to petition in like manner. 

Richmond, Decem'r ye 22, A. D. 1788. 

Jonathan Bolles, John Bolles, 
SiMEf)N Thayer, Joseph Newell, 

Nathaniel Bolles, Moses Cooley, 
Aaron Cooley. 



lOO HISTORY OF THE 

A second petition to exempt from military duty was 
of similar purport to the foregoing, and was signed 
by the following persons, and dated — 

Richmond, November ye 15th, A. D. 1796. 

Petb8[i Martin, Simeon Thayer, 

George Martin, John Bolles, Jun'r. 

Jonathan Bolles, Amos Boorn. 
Joseph Newil, 

Richmond, Nov. ye 15th, A. D. 1796. 
We the subscribers selectmen of said Richmond hereby certify 
that We are Well acquainted with the Signers of the Within Peti- 
tion & believe them to be good & Loyal Citizens of the State of 
New Hampshire & We likewise believe they are conscientiously 
scrupulous about the Lawfulness of bearing arms. 

Moses Tyler, -j Selectmen 

Nathaniel Aldrich, \ of 

Samuel Gaskill. J Riclnnond. 



WARNING OUT OF TOWN. 
Our fathers had a custom of warning out of town 
all strangers that came therein in apparently needy 
circumstances. This precaution was taken to prevent 
their gaining a pauper settlement, and hence to re- 
lieve the town of a possible public charge for their 
support. The following is a specimen of their pro- 
ceeding in such cases : — 

Cheshire Ss. 
To yonat/ian Gaskill, Constable of Richmond : 

Your hereby required to Warn Elizabeth Streeter and Elizabeth 
Streeter, Jun'r, to depart this town in fourteen days or give suffi- 
cient bonds to indemnify the town. Hereof fail not, and make due 
return. Given at Riclimond the 14th daj- of December, 1775. 

William Goddard, \ Sclectme// 
Enoch White, y of 

Daniel Read, ) Richmond. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. lOI 



THE GLEBE LANDS. 

By the charter of the town, the land embraced 
within its limits, comprising 23,040 acres, was to be 
divided into seventy-one equal parts or shares. Each 
share, consequently, would have been about 320 
acres. Now, two of these shares were reserved in 
that instrument for religious purposes, one for "the 
propagating of the gospel in foreign parts," and one 
for a "glebe for the Church of England." These 
lands remaining undisposed of at the time of the 
breaking out of the war of the Revolution, were 
claimed by the town, and sold by authority of the 
same, as appears by a vote passed April 3, 1797, 
viz. : — 

Chose Jedcdiah Buft'um Agent on the partof this town to sell and 
give acquittance deed or deeds of all the right and title they may 
have or ought to have or hereafter may have to or unto the two 
rights of Land in said Richmond known by the name of the Gleab 
for the Church of England and the right for propagating the Gos- 
pell in foreign parts. 



BOUNTY ON WOLVES AND CROWS. 

The losses sustained by the early settlers by the 
ravages of wolves on their flocks and herds, together 
with the vexation necessarily incident to their noctur- 
nal visits, induced the early settlers to ofler quite 
liberal bounties for their destruction. The first bounty 
on record was offered in 1777, although it is quite 
probable that others may have been offered which are 
unrecorded. It appears that the town continually 
changed the conditions of payment. First — 

Voted, To pay a bounty of four j^ounds ten shillings on a wolf's 
head. 



I02 HISTORY OF THE 

The second, in 1788, was — 

Vofed, A bounty of six pounds on a wolf's head killed in town 
the present year. 

In 1779 — 

Vo/ed, That any person that belongs to this town, that kills a 
wolf and brings his head, shall receive thirty pounds from said 
town. 

In 1780, it was — 

Voted, That sixty pounds bounty on a wolPs head that is started 
in this town by any person that belongs to said town, and brings 
the head as above mentioned to the town Treasurer, receive said 
bounty. 

The last on record, offered in 1785, was a bounty 
of four pounds ten shillings for a wolf's head, when 
the wolf's track was taken in the town. The reason 
why so large a bounty was offered in 1779 and 1780 
was owing to the little value attached to the Continental 
money. After having despatched the wolves, they 
turned their attention to the crows in 1797, and 
offered the following exceedingly liberal bounty on 
crows' heads, viz. : — 

Voted, To raise seventy dollars to be paid into the town Treasury 
for the purpose of paying a bounty on crows' heads; and 

Resolved, The town treasurer be and he is hereby directed to pay 
twenty cents for each crow's head that shall be killed in Richmond 
and brought to him from this day to the third day of April next by 
any inhabitant of this town. 

The bounties were continued for a long series of 
years, varying occasionally in the price offered. 
Sometimes it was twenty cents for old crows, and 
ten cents for young ones, and then again a shilling 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. IO3 

would be offered. The vvrltor of this well remembers 
bagfulls, containing often a peck or more, being 
brought to the selectmen, who were authorized at 
times to make pa3nnent, and the bearers of the burden 
were asked by them to make oath that they were not 
killed in Massachusetts, as only New Hampshire crows 
were entitled to a bounty. When paid for, the mer- 
chandise must be securely buried lest a second 
bounty should be paid on the same crows' heads. 
All bounties of this kind have been paid of late by the 
state treasurer, and this may really be a useless ex- 
penditure, for the impression is quite general among 
farmers that the crow is, on the whole, a useful bird, 
doing much more good in destroying insects and ver- 
min than any damage it may necessarily do to the 
cornfields. 



I04 HISTORY OF THE 



CHAPTER IV. 

WAR OF 1S12, ROADS, SCHOOLS, &c. 

War of 1S12 — Town Action Concerning; — Captain Bryant's Company — Soldiers in 
other Companies — Drafted Men — Ballou's Poem — The Ashuelot Turnpike — 
Other Roads Laid Out — An Amusing Incident — United States Mail and Ex- 
press Routes — Schools and School Teachers — The Town Districted — A Part 
of Town Annexed to Troy — A Part Annexed to Winchester — Map of Town — 
Topography and Geology of the Town — Military' Matters — Paupers. 

The part taken by the town in the second contest 
with Great Britain reflects additional lustre on its 
patriotism, both on account of the early action of the 
town in offering bounties, and also by reason of the 
large number that volunteered in the service. As 
early as 1809 (possibl}^ a mistake of the copyist), in 
the warrant for the annual meeting, the following 
article appears, viz. : "To see if the town will make 
addition to the soldiers' wages that have lately volun- 
teered themselves, provided they should be called into 
actual service." The town afterwards voted to pa}' 
ten dollars per month in addition to the government 
pay. The pecuniary inducement thus offered proved 
a sufficient stimulant, and the town quotas appear to 
have been promptly filled by volunteers until nearly 
the close of the war, when one draft only appears to 
have been made. It is now difficult to ascertain with 
certainty the names of all the soldiers in the war from 
this town, but a sufficient number have been discov- 
ered to warrant the assertion that the people freely 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. IO5 

came forward to support the government in its oppo- 
sition to the unwarranted aggressions of Great Britain 
on the rights of American sailors on the high seas. 
It has been difficult to obtain a full list of those that 
were out m this service. No records in the town, 
county, or state, contain an enrollment of those that 
went from this town. Through the intercession of 
Hon. Ossian Ray, representative to congress from 
this district, we have obtained the names of those in 
the 30th Regiment in 1812. Others may have been 
in the service in 1814 of which we have no account. 
The country was not united in carrying on this war. 
The Federal party was particularly bitter in its op- 
position ; hence the men who engaged in this service 
were upholding a cause that was unpopular in many 
localities in New England. The old Bay State was 
cold and inactive, to say the least, in the prosecution 
of the war, refusing at first to send her troops beyond 
her limits, and giving the government a very limited 
support ; but not so the men who lived within this 
precinct. These had faith in the government, and 
their faith was manifested by their works. The town 
was nearly unanimous in sentiment in the matter of 
prosecuting the war. On the re-election of President 
Madison, under whose administration the war was 
carried on, but twelve votes in this town were given 
in for electors for the opposition candidate in a total of 
two hundred and twenty-six votes cast. An incident 
illustrative of the war sentiment in this and other 
towns, was exemplified in a fracas which occurred in 
Winchester between a squad of soldiers from this 
town on their way to join the army on the northern 
frontier, and some Winchester Federalists, whose in- 
sults were repelled by both words and blows. These 



I06 HISTORY OF THE 

soldiers were arrested for assault and battery for the 
defence they made, and were fined by the presiding 
justice ; but the long head of old Bisbee was more than 
a match for the justice. Bisbee settled the fine and cost 
imposed by his individual note, which in the end was 
found to be uncollectable, tor the reason that there 
was no value received in the transaction. This 
squad of soldiers was unarmed, and consequently 
had nothing but their bony fists to repel an attack, 
except that Mordica Cass, who was among the num- 
ber, had provided himself with a good hickory stick 
on the wa}', which he applied to "good advantage," 
as he was accustomed to relate the story in after years. 

CAPTAIN BRYANT'S COMPANY. 

Daniel C. Bryant, who is mentioned as a lieutenant 
in 1812, was promoted to a captainc}^ in 1814. He, 
at the head of his company, which was largel}^ re- 
cruited in Richmond and vicinity, commenced his 
march towards the Niagara frontier, which was then 
the scene of strife, on a beautiful Sunday in June, 
1814, and arrived in Swansey about noon of the same 
day, and then paraded on the common, near the 
meeting-house, and partook of refreshments furnished 
by the Swansey people. Reliable eye-witnesses, some 
of whom are now living, say that the company made 
an imposing appearance, and that Captain Br3^ant, to 
say the least, was a splendid-lookiag officer ; but his 
cood looks did not save him from being accused of 
cowardice, whether justly or not is now unknown. 
The report, at any rate, was sufficient to move the 
poet Silas Ballou to write some verses of scathing 
character in relation to him. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. IO7 

Captain Bryant and Dr. Amos Howe, the surgeon 
of the regiment, had coats of red in imitation of the 
uniforms of the British officers. 

The following were soldiers in the 31st Regiment, 
U. S. Infantry, as mustered Aug. 30, 1812, under 
command of Lieut. Daniel C. Bryant. Uriah Ward 
was captain at the time, but he resigned his commis- 
sion Aug. 21, 1813, and Lieut. Bryant was promoted 
to the captaincy, Dec. i, 1814 : — 

Daniel C. Bn'anl, Lieut. ; Carlton Bryant, Chauncy Bryant, 
Samuel Bryant, Wm. BufFum, Stephen Buft'um, Jedediah BufVuni, 
3d; Jared Ballou, Richard Boorn, Thomas Bryant, John Cass, Jr., 
Moses Garnse}', Amos Howe, Cromwell Kelton, Townsend Parker 
Daniel Thornton, Lewis Whipple, Henry Whipple, James Whipple. 



SOLDIERS IN OTHER COMPANIES. 

Townsend Parker was in the battle of " Stone 
Mills," under Captain Burnap, and did skirmishing 
duty. He killed one Indian sure, and perhaps an- 
other. 

Noah Bisbee, Jr., Esq., was a lieutenant in Capt. 
Charles E. Tobe3^'s Company of 21st Infantry, to- 
gether with his brother Seth. 

Others are known to have been in the service on 
the northern frontier, and probable enlisted in 1813 or 
1814 in the same company with the Bisbees, viz. : 
Daniel Man, Stephen Man, Chandler Man, Arnold 
Man, Mordica Cass, Laban Cass, Jesse Bishop, 
Nathan Cass, and Aaron Martin. Noah Bisbee, Jr., 
and Lewis Whipple were killed, and Seth Bisbee 
was wounded, at the battle of Lundy's Lane, July 
24, 1814, when making an attack on a British re- 
doubt or batter}', which charge, made by Col. James 



io8 



HISTORY OF THE 



Miller, has ever been regarded as one of the most 
heroic incidents of the war of 1812. The laconic 




CHARGE ON A BATTERY — LUNDY S LANE. 

reply of the colonel on this occasion, " I will try, sir," 
when asked if he could take the battery, has become 
historic words. 

In addition to those already named, a number of 
others were despatched to the defence of Portsmouth, 
which was menaced by the presence of a British 
frigate in the adjacent waters. Among these we find 
the following names : — 

Dan. Buftum, OIney Ballon, Benoni Ballou, Samuel Barrus, 
Moses Tyler, Joseph Jessop, Nathan Perry (died in the service). 



Dan. BufTum is now the only survivor of this war 
living in town. Patriotism runs in the blood of the 
family. His three sons — David, Amos, and Cyrus 
— were volunteers in the late war, and died in the ser- 
vice. Their war record is creditable, and reflects addi- 
tional honor on the name. Mrs. Sarah Ballou, widow 
of Benoni Ballou, is the only surviving widow of the 
soldiers of 181 2. She, as well as Mr. Buffiim, draws 
a pension. The following lines, composed by Silas 
Ballou soon after the close of the war, were exten- 
sivel}' published at the time throughout the countr3% 
and have occasionally appeared in the papers since : 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. IO9 

America)!- War with Great Britain. 

BY SILAS BALLOU, 1815. 

Old England, forty years ago, 

When we were young and slender. 
Conspired to give a fatal blow, 

But God was our defender. 
Jehovah saw her horrid plan, 

Great Washington He gave us; 
His holiness inspired the man 

With power and skill to save us. 

She sent her fleets and armies o'er 

To ravage, kill, and plunder; 
Our heroes met them on the shore, 

And beat them back with thunder; 
Our independence they confessed, 

And with their hands they signed it. 
But on their hearts 'twas ne'er impressed, 

For there I ne'er could find it. 

And since that time they have been still 

Our liberties invading; 
We bore and forbore until 

Forbearance was degrading; 
Regardless of our sailor's rights 

Impressed our native seamen, 
Made them against their country fight, 

And thus enslaved our freemen. 

Great Madison besought the foe, 

He mildly did implore them 
To let the suft'ering captives go, 

But they would not restore them ; 
Our commerce, too, they did invade, 

Our ships they searched and seized, * 

Declaring, also, we should trade 

With none but whom they pleased. 

Thus Madison in thunder spoke : 

" We 've power, and we must use it! 
Our freedom surely lies at stake, 

And we must rouse or lose it; 



no HISTORY OF THE 

We'll let old England's children know 
We are the brave descendants 

Of those who flogged their fathers so, 
And gained our independence ! " 

Our soldiers and our seamen, too, 

Were put in warlike motion ; 
Straight to the fields our soldiers flew, 

Our seamen to the ocean ; 
They met their foes on lowering waves, 

With courage, skill, and splendor; 
They sunk them down to watery graves, 

Or forced them to surrender. 

Decatur, Hull, and Bainbridge, dear. 

Did wonders in our navy, 
Brave Captain Hull sunk the Guerrire, 

And Bainbridge sunk the Javi; 
Decatur took a ship of fame 

High on the waving water — 
The Macedonian was her name — 

And home in triumph brought her. 

Perry, with flags and sails unfurled, 

Met Barclay on Lake Erie; 
At him his matchless thunder hurled 

Till Barclay grew quite weary ; 
He gained the victory and renown. 

He worked him up so neatly, 
He brought old England's banners down, 

And swept the lake completely. 

Proud Downie fell on Lake Champlain, 

By fortune quite forsaken ; 
He was by bold McDonald slain, 

And all his fleets were taken. 
Whene'er they met Columbia's sons 

On lakes, or larger waters. 
They sunk beneath her thundering guns. 

Or humbly cried for quarters. 

When Provost thus had lost his fleet, 
He gave out special orders 

For his whole army to retreat 
And leave tlie Yankee borders. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. Ill 

Through dreary wilds, o'er bog and pen, 

The luckless general blundered; 
He fled with fifteen thousand men 

From Macomb's fifteen hundred. 

Let William Hull be counted null. 

And let him not be named 
Upon the roll of valiant souls, 

Of him we arfe ashamed ; 
For his campaign was worse than vain, 

A coward and a traitor; 
For paltry gold, his army sold 

To Brock the speculator. 

When Proctor found brave Harrison 

Had landed on his region. 
Away the timorous creature ran 

With all his savage legion ; 
But overtaken were, and most 

Of them were killed and taken, 
But Proctor soon forsook his post, 

And fled " to save his bacon." 

At little York, beneath the guns 

Of Chauncy, Dearborn landed, 
And quickly made old England's sons 

Resign what he demanded. 
P'rom George's fort to Erie's beach 

Our savage foes were beaten ; 
Their naked bones were left to bleach 

Where wolves their flesh had eaten. 

How often Brown made Drummond fly 

From scenes of desolation ; 
The terror of his noble eye 

Struck him with consternation. 
Brave Miller, Ripley, Gaines, and Scott, 

At Erie and Bridgewater, 
At Chippewa, in battle hot. 

Their bravest foes did slaughter. 

At Washington their horrid crimes 

Must tarnish British glory; 
Children must blusii in future times 

To read the shameful story. 



112 HISTORY OF THE 

They burned the volumes which comprised 

The best of information ; 
Tlieir barbarous deeds will be despised 

Bj every Christian nation. 

At Baltimore, a deadly blow 

The sons of mischief aimed ; 
The sons of freedom met the foe, 

And victory justly claimed. 
Amidst their ranks our thunders burst, 

Many were killed and wounded, 
Their chief commander " bit the dust," 

And all their schemes confounded. 

What wonders did brave Jackson do. 

When aided by high Heaven ! 
Their leader and four thousand slew, 

And lost but only seven ; 
Some interposing angel's hand 

Repelled their vile intrusion — 
The remnant of their broken band 

Fled off in sad confusion. 

They passed through numerous trying scenes, 

In most of them defeated ; 
Their grand defeat at New Orleans 

The bloody scene completed. 
Soon after this, sweet Peace arrived, 

Our armies were disbanded ; 
Our scattered foes, who had survived 

The war, were home commanded. 

What has our infant country gained 

By fighting that old nation.'' 
Our liberties we have maintained. 

And raised our reputation. 
We 've gained the freedom of the seas, 

Our seamen are released. 
Our mariners trade where they please, 

Impressments, too, have ceased. 

Now, in ourselves we can confide; 

Abroad we are respected ; 
We 've checked the rage of British pride, 

Their haughtiness corrected. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. II3 

First to the God of boundless power, 

Be thanks and adoration ; 
Next, Madison, the wondrous flower, 

And jewel of our nation. 

Next, Congress does our thanks demand, 

To them our thanks we tender; 
Our heroes, next, by sea and land, 

To them our thanks we render. 
Let us be just, in union live, 

Then who will dare invade us.-" 
If any should, our God will give 

His angels charge to aid us. 



DRAFTED MEN. 

The following is a list of those that were drafted 
near the close of the war, some of whom went into the 
service, and others obtained substitutes, viz. : — 

Jacob Whitcomb, Chandler Man, Thomas Goddard, Salmon Mar- 
tin, Samuel Barrus, Martin Cass, Nahum Perry, Lewis Aldrich, 
William Barrus, Ellis Thayer, Ellis Thayer, 2d ; Eli Page, 2d ; Jere- 
miah Bolles, Millens Barrus, Paul Jillson, Jr., Benjamin Newell. 



THE ASHUELOT TURNPIKE AND OTHER ROADS. 

The old road running from Winchester to Royals- 
ton, built by the proprietors of Winchester about 
1733, and laid out by the selectmen in 1765, of which 
mention has already been made, was the great 
thoroughfare for the public travel from east to west 
until about 1808 : especially that portion of it from 
the Daniel Cass place westward to Winchester re- 
mained the chief line of travel for a long time after 
the travel was somewhat diverted from the easterly 
portion by the road over Gaskill hill, and the more 
direct way to Royalston by the Jonathan Thurber 
place, laid out in 1770. None of these atlbrded a 
8 



114 HISTORY OF THE 

direct communication with Fitzwilliam, which was 
only reached by a circuitous route through the Boyce 
neighborhood in the south-east part of the town. The 
inconvenience thus experienced caused the town to 
take action in the matter in 1797, when they — 

Voted, That the selectmen of this town meet the selectmen of 
Fitzwilliam to see where the most convenient road can be made 
from the middle of one town to the middle of the other, and to lay 
out the same and report accordingly. 

The report of the selectmen, if made, was not ac- 
cepted ; and other selectmen were instructed to view 
new routes, but nothing definite was accomplished 
towards building the road on the part of the town. 
But about 1806, some public-spirited individuals in 
Fitzwilliam, Richmond, and Winchester, began to 
agitate the feasibility and practicability of a turnpike 
through these towns. Consequently, at the June ses- 
sion of the General Court, 1807, an act was passed, 
entitled "An act to incorporate a Company by the 
name of the Ashuelot Turnpike Corporation." Moses 
Tyler, Esq., and Esek BufFum and their associates 
and successors were made the corporators by said 
act, and were vested with all the privileges and 
powers which by law are incident to corporations of 
a similar nature, and were empowered with authority 
to build a turnpike from Winchester, through Rich- 
mond, to Fitzwilliam village, of the width of four 
rods, and to cost not less than $600 per mile, and to 
be completed within six years. The work seems to 
have been pushed with considerable force, and fully 
completed within one-half the time fixed by the 
charter. The stock was largely disposed of to the 
road contractors in payment for their work, and was 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. II5 

considered an investment which would pay a dividend 
of from six to nine per cent. Like many another stock 
enterprise in building highways and railroads, the 
stock-owners were destined to disappointment, as the 
sequel proved. The location of the old turnpike is 
still generally well known, but for the benefit of those 
that may come after, it may be briefly described as 
the main travelled road westward from the Four 
corners to the mills now owned by N. Naromore & 
Sons, and thence to Winchester, by Dan. Buftum's ; 
and from the Four corners easterly to the Henry 
Rice place, thence nearly in a straight course to the 
Fitzwilliam line, by the Silas Jillson place, the part 
between the said mills and the Rice place remaining 
still the main travelled way. The road appears to 
have been built and opened to travel in 1809. Three 
toll-gates were placed on the road from Fitzwilliam 
village to Winchester centre, one in each town. The 
one in Richmond was for a considerable portion of 
the time at Wyman Thayer's, the place now occupied 
b}^ his daughter, Mrs. Bryant. The tolls authorized 
to be collected by the toll-gatherers were, for every 
mile of the road travelled over, — for every ten sheep 
or swine, one half cent ; for every ten neat cattle, 
horses, or mules, one cent ; for every horse and his 
rider, or led horse, one cent; tor every sulkey, chair, 
or chaise, with one horse and two wheels, two cents ; 
for every coach, chariot, stage, or phaeton, or chaise 
with two horses and four wheels, three cents ; and 
the like sums according to the number of wheels and 
horses drawing the same. It was further provided in 
the act, " that if any person shall, with his car- 
riage, team, cattle, or horses, turn oft' said road to 
pass said turnpike road on ground adjacent thereto 



ii6 



HISTORY OF THE 



not being a public highway, with an intent to avoid 
the payment of the toll due by virtue of this act, such 
person shall forfeit and pay three times as much as 
the legal toll would have been, provided nothing in 
this act shall extend to entitle said corporation to de- 
mand or receive toll of any person who is an inhabi- 
tant of any town where a gate may be erected ; nor 
any officer or soldier of the Militia under arms going 
to or from the place of military dut}^, nor to any 
funeral that may have occasion to pass said gate." 
And also provided, "and at all times when the toll- 
gatherer does not attend his duty the gates shall be 
left open." Contrary to the expectations of the pro- 
jectors of the enterprise, the revenue derived from 
tolls, instead of being enough for a dividend of from 
six to nine per cent, was hardly sufficient to pay 
the toll-gatherers and keep the road in repair. Prob- 
ably no dividend ever was declared. After a trial of 
about twenty years, the corporation relinquished all 
their ricjht in the same to the town for the sum of one 
hundred dollars. This road, like many of the old 
turnpikes, was projected nearly on a straight line, 
regardless of the hills, and hence its heavy gradients 
were insuperable objections to teamsters with heavy 
freights. The hill east of Jillson's was particularly 
long and steep, and teams with heavy loads had 
quite frequently to be doubled in going up the same, 
and also the same with some others. The road must 
have been a great public benefit at the time, and a great 
improvement over any road leading from Fitzwilliam 
to Winchester before this was built. The saddest 
part of the story is that a burden which properly 
should have been borne by the public was laid on a 
few individuals ill prepared to bear the expense. 



TOWN OF HTCIIMOND. II7 



THE NEW ROAD BUILT. 



Soon after the turnpike was given up to the town — 
say about 1829 — a movement was set on foot for a 
new road from Winchendon, then called " Morse's 
Village," to Winchester, for the purpose of securing 
the travel from Brattleboro' and southern Vermont to 
Boston by a more direct route. Consequently, sur- 
veys were made through Royalston and by the 
Roaring brook (so called) to Winchester, and also by 
way of Fitzwilliam village and Richmond Four cor- 
ners. Persons livings near the line of either of the 
proposed routes, believing their interests would be 
materially affected by the location of the new road, 
became jealous, and in some cases, perhaps, un- 
reasoning partisans of the schemes they favored. 
After much contention and bitterness between the 
contending factions, the more northern route through 
Fitzwilliam village and the Four corners was laid 
out by the road commissioners about 1830, and the 
road was built and open for travel in 1833. This 
road is still the main thoroughfare through town from 
east to west, and has remained substantially unaltered 
to the present time. 

The friends of the enterprise in this case were not 
disappointed in the results attained. The route be- 
came popular with the travelling public, and the 
travel from Brattleboro' to Boston largely passed 
over this road. Stages passed over the same both 
ways daily, and teams with six and eight horses 
might be seen almost every day moving like a grand 
cavalcade along its way. This activity along the 
line continued until the opening of the Fitchburg and 
Cheshire railroads, about 1850, when the " glory 



ii8 



HISTORY OF THE 



of Israel " seemed in a great measure to have de- 
parted. 

An amusing incident occurred in the laying out of 
this road which was the subject of much laughter at 
the time. The committee from this town, who were 
looking out the road in the south part of Fitzwilliam, 
had occasion to stop at a farm-house over night. 
Hon. Joseph Weeks and Timothy Pickering, Esq., 
were to occupy the same bed for the night. Weeks 
first retired, leavinfj- Pickering to finish his storv. 
The time having arrived for Pickering to retire, he 




AN AMUSING INCIDENT. 



was provided with a light ; and with directions where 
to go, he proceeded to the room, there to find, appar- 
ently, an old lady occupying the bed. A glance 
satisfied the esquire that he was in the wrong pew, 
and he returned back and informed the good folks 
that there must have been a mistake as to the room, 
as he had found an " old lady in the bed who ap- 
peared to have a high fever.'' Subsequent research 
disclosed the fact that the old lady was no other than 
Judge Weeks with a night-cap on which he had 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. II9 

taken from the bed-post, and being of a ruddy com- 
plexion, appeared to be in a fever. The incident 
was too good to keep, and was the subject of merri- 
ment for some time after. 

The main road running through town north and 
south is worthy of special mention. This was kiid 
out in 1770, and was designed to take the place 
of some pieces laid out in iy6^-66. This was the 
first road laid out by courses and distances. It be- 
gan at the bay line south of Jonathan Thurber's, 
and ran northerly four miles and fifty rods until it in- 
tersected a road previously made from John Martin's 
to Swansey, by the Cook and Newell places. About 
1784, this road appears to have been re-laid out as a 
country road, and has remained unaltered since that 
time. Over this road was conveyed the first mail the 
town had, which was carried from Worcester to 
Keene in 1812, and continued until 1830 by private 
conveyance. Afterwards, for some years, stages and 
expresses run daily between the aforesaid places, until 
superseded by the railroads, when the daily mail from 
Worcester to Keene was discontinued and a tri- 
weekly one was afterwards put on, and finally a 
daily since 1876. 

. In addition to the road already named as laid out 
in 1784, the court's committee or county committee 
have at various times laid out certain other roads in 
town, viz. : in 1784, they laid out the road between 
Richmond and Fitzwilliam, the same that runs by 
James Harkness'. In September, 1802, they laid the 
road from North Richmond to Swansey, by Nahum 
Cass'. The new road from Winchester to Fitzwilliam, 
which consisted of a divergence from the old turnpike, 
was laid out May i, 183 1, bv the county committee, 



I20 HISTORY OF THE 

consisting of Elijah Belding, Nathan Wild, and N. 
G. Babbitt. The road by Alvin Scott's mill was laid 
out in 1835. The short piece of road from near Lewis 
Freeman's, south to new road, was laid out 1849. 
The new road through the Pond woods, known as the 
Harkness road, was laid out, on petition of H. W. W. 
Miller and one hundred and thirteen others, in 1849. 
The town, 1850, petitioned the court to discontinue 
the last-named road, but their petition was not 
granted, and they had the cost to pay. The road 
from beiow Sprague's mills to Augustus Arnold's was 
laid out in 1853. The petition of certain others was 
defeated, viz. : David Martin, for a road from Activity 
to Troy, 185 1 ; Lilburn Allen, for a road in the Boyce 
neighborhood, 1850. 

THE UNITED STATES MAIL, STAGE, AND EXPRESS 
LINES. 

The first mail conveyance the town had was on a 
route established in 1812 from Worcester to Keene, 
and the carrier was Jonathan Pierce, of Ro3'alston, 
who at first made weekly and afterwards semi- 
weekly trips over the road in an old " one-horse 
shay," not the one the deacon had, it is true, but it was 
of the same pattern, and equally as venerable. Mr. 
Pierce was in this service nearly twenty years, and 
was as regular as the sun in his rounds, and is still 
remembered as a large man of fine physique, quite 
companionable, and of a social turn well calculated 
to win friends, a host of which he had on the line of 
his route. He was succeeded by a line of stage- 
coaches put on by Russell Wheeler and Jonas For- 
ristall, of Royalston, . about 1830. This enterprise, 
after a trial of a few vears with indifferent success, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 121 

was given up, and Renoni Ballou, of Richmond, 
continued the carrying of the mail from Royalston to 
Keene on the same line, with a horse and wagon, 
for some years. He carried some passengers and 
"did errands," since called express business. 

About 1835 ''another line of stages, carrying the 
mail from Worcester to Keene, was run under the 
management of that king of staging, Genery Twitch- 
ell, and was continued until about the time of the 




STAGE COACH. 



building of the Fitchburg railroad, when the daily 
mail route over this line ceased, and the mail was 
carried tri-weekly only until 1876. The driver on 
this line for several years is still remembered, — was 
usually called Mac. Another post route and stage 
line from Brattleboro' to Boston was opened about 
1830. This was run daily, the morning stage from 
Brattleboro' arriving about eight in the morning, and 
the evening stage from Boston about 6, p. m., afford- 
ing ample travelling and postal facilities, equal in 
fact to that of au}^ other country town ; but all this 
was changed when the Fitchburg railroad and its ex- 
tensions were completed, except that the mail and 
express-wagon continued to run from Winchester to 
Fitzwilliam three times a week in connection with the 
Cheshire trains until about 1876. 

Of the old drivers on the Brattleboro' line, Pennock 
and Sylvanus Perliam, perhaps, (who were the longest 
on the route,) and Madison Martin, are now best remem- 



122 HISTORY OF THE 

bered. It was the custom on this line for the driver to 
blow his horn when nearing a village to warn them of 
his arrival, in imitation of the English fashion. Mr. 
W. W. Ball was the last of the expressmen and mail- 
carriers on the Winchester and Fitzwilliam route, and 
was longer in that service than any other, having 
commenced in 1862, making fourteen years of con- 
tinued service. The mail route was changed to Keene 
in 1876, and this was then discontinued, and has so 
remained to the present time. A daih' passenger and 
express is run with the rnail, stopping at the post- 
offices at North Richmond, Unionville, and Swansey 
Centre. Mr. Orlan Whipple, the present proprietor, 
has run this line most of the time since 1867. The 
following compliment is cheerfully inserted by request 
of Mr. Ball. He says that " during the fourteen 
years no unkind word was received from the Rich- 
mond people, and no person said to me that I charged 
them too much for conveyance or express, and all 
bills were promptl}' paid, with the exception of one 
case, and he remembered so man}^ times to tell me 
he should pay, and did not, that I call it settled." 

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS. 

The first mention made of schools or schooling w^as 
in 1 77 1' when the town raised fourteen pounds for 
schooling, and voted to hold the schools in six 
several places. This amount would be equal to 
about seventy dollars, and would give less than 
twelve dollars for the support of each, w^hile the 
population of the town at that time was equal to the 
present. The following year the grant was increased 
to fifteen pounds, not a very large addition, giving 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 1 23 

about a dollar more to each. In 1773, thirty pounds 
was granted, but in 1774, it was reduced to fifteen, 
and in 1775 increased to twenty. Up to this time 
there had been no school-houses in town, but the 
schools had been held in private dwellings. 

TJie First School District. 

PETITION. 

A request to the town from the Inhabitants in the South-West 
Corner of the town of Richmond to set lis tlie Subscribers off in a 
Squadron so that We may know where to build a school house and 
not be divided any more. We request to be boimded as follows : 
Beginning at Winchester Line Where Norwood's brook crosses the 
Line, thence up said Brook to Rufus Whipple's South Line, from 
thence East on said Line to Thomas Wooley's Land and on his 
North Line and David Cass's North Line to his North East corner, 
from thence South on the Line between the Ranges No. Nine and 
Eight to Warwick Line. 

Richmond, March 24, 1775. 

Israel Whipple, Nathan Wooley, 

Michael Barrus, William Goddard, 

Othnial Day, Ichabod Whipple, 

Ebenezer Barrus, Benjamin Thrasher, 

Nathan Barrus, Jonathan Atherton, 

Solomon Atherton, Dan. Whipple, 

Thomas Wooley, David Cass, 

Oliver Capron, John Barrus, 

Abraham Barrus, Rufus Whipple. 

Richmond, March 29. 1775. 
Voted, That the above Squadron be set off according to above 
request. 

Second ScJiooI District. 

petition. 

A request to the town from the Inhabitants in the West part of 
the town of Richmond to set us the subscribers off in a Squadron 
so that We may know where to build a school house and not be 
divided any more. We request to be bounded as follows : Begin- 
ning at Winchester Line on the North side of Norwood's brook, 



124 HISTORY OF THE 

thence South Easterly till it comes to James Tillson's South West 
corner, thence East to John Cass' South East corner, thence North 
to Abraham Mann's North East corner, thence West to Silas 
Taft's North West corner, thence South to Joseph Cass's land, 
thence West to Winchester Line. 
March ye 29, 1775- 

John Dandley, Abraham Mann, 

Joseph Cass, John Cass, 

Oliver Ormsbee, Grindall Thayer, 
Silas Taft, Francis Norwood. 

IsryjiRE Whipple, 

March 29, 1775. 
Voted, To set off the last written Squadron acconiing to request. 

The town raised no money for schooling in 1776; 
but in 1777 they granted thirty pounds, which vote 
afterwards was rescinded. In 1778 they raised 
nothing, but chose Dr. Aaron Aldrich a grammar- 
school master, the first and only one ever chosen by 
the town. In i779-'8o, when the paper money be- 
came less valuable, they voted £300 and £600, re- 
spectively, for schools. 

We have presented the action of the town on matters 
pertaining to schools up to the time when the educa- 
tion of the children of the state was made compulsory 
under the Constitution in 1783. Alter this time 
various sums were raised, varj'ing from fifty to one 
hundred pounds, for several years. 

THE TOWN DIVIDED INTO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 

In 1784, the town chose a committee, consisting of 
Nicholas Cook, Rufus Whipple, Peter Holbrook, 
Jonathan Gaskili, John Gorton, James Kingslejs and 
Henry Ingalls, to divide the town into school squad- 
rons, which duty, it is presumed, they performed to 
the acceptance of the town ; but the number of them 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I25 

is not reported, nor the boundaries thereof, but in 
1789 a revisal of the school districts was made by the 
selectmen, with a list of the legal voters and heads of 
families in each of the twenty school districts then 
made, beginning with the south-west corner of the 
town as No. i, and thence running northerly with the 
numbers, and again returning for the next tier, of 
which the following is a copy : — 

The Division of School Districts for A. D. IJ^Q- 

No. 1. — Col'l OIv. Capron, Michael Barms. Ebenezer Bairus, 
Jonathan Artherton, Solomon Artherton, Othniel Day, Israel 
Whipple, Joseph Ornisbv, John Barrus, Mary Barms, Jesse Martin, 
Dan. Whipple, Moses Tyler, Rufiis Whipple, Isquire Whipple, 
Timothy Robinson, Barnabas Thresher, Benjamin Thresher, Eben- 
ezer Barrus, Jared Ballon, Ichabod Whipple, Laban Thornton, 
Lemuel Artherton. 

No. 2. — Francis Norwood, Joseph Cass, James Hewes, Grindall 
Thayer, Levy Mory, Jesse Garnsey, Amos Garnsey, David Garn- 
sey, Silas Taft, Darias Taft, Edmond Ingalls, Abraham Man, James 
Brown, Jonas Twichel, Elijah Stoddart, Sirril Garnsey, Micajah 
Norwood, Iddo Cass, James Dandley, Joel Cass, Abner Comstock, 
Turner Thayer, Aaron Humes, Preserved Taft, Silas Whitechar, 
Amos Garnsey, Jd. 

No. 3. — John Scott, Luke Scott, Lemuel Scott, Abraham Brown, 
Jeremiah Thayer, Eli Page, Israel Sabin, Ephraim Taft. Peter 
Holbrook, Jeremiah Thayer, 2d, Aaron Cooley, John Bennett, 
Asahel Bennett, Joseph Holbrook, Peleg Taft, Asahel Jewel. 

No. 4. — Robert Buft'um, David Ballou, John Cass, 2d, Elisabeth 
Man, Samuel Carpenter. 

No. 5. — William Goddard, David Cass, Silas Parker, Ivory 
Snow, Ruben Parker, Oliver Barrus, Stephen Kimpton, Oliver 
Ilix, Napthali Guild, Amos Parker, Edward Goddard, Joseph 
Goddard. 

No. 6. — Ebenezer Blanding, Ephraim Hix, Isaiah Thurber, 
Henry Ingalls, John Pickering, William Garnsey, Martin Ellis, 
Jeremiah Bullock, Daniel Carpenter. 

No. 7. — Nathan Harkness, Daniel Cass, 2d, Daniel Cass, John 
Cass, 3d, Gideon Man, Gideon Man, 2d, Daniel Man, Jedediah 
Buffum, James Kingsley, Henry Aldrich, Levy Thayer, Moses 
Allen, Olvin Allen, Jonathan Jilson, Hezekiah Thurber, James 
Ramer. 



126 HISTORY OF THE 

No. 8. — Samuel Curtis, Noah Curtis, Luther Curtis, Simpson 
Ihimmond, Artemeus Aldrich, Nicholas Cook, William Cook, 
Sarah Martin, Wilderness Martin, Elijah White, Thomas Alex- 
ander. 

No. 9. — Abner Aldrich, Stephen Harris. Christopher Harris, 
Levi Aldrich, Silas Aldrich, Aaron Ballou, Annanias Aldrich, 
Luke Cass, Uriah Aldrich, Nathan Aldrich, Paul Aldrich, Philip 
Aldrich, James Cook, Zuriel Cook, Aquilla Ramsdell, Oliver Harris, 
Silas Wheeler. 

No. 10. — David Russell, Sylvanus Harris, Sarah Crane, 
Maturen Ballou, Nathan Ballou, Thomas Bowen, Aaron Aldrich, 
Roval Aldrich, Jonathan Cass, Joseph Streter. 

No. 11. — William Chase, Sylvanus Cook, Elijah Devenport, 
Starkey Joseph, Moses Wheaton, Aholiab Smith, Nathaniel Al- 
drich, Samuel Swift, Jesse Ballou, David Swift, Oliver Perry. 

No. 12. — John Gorton, Ruben Randall, Barney Smith, Stephen 
Jilson, Paul Jilson, John Harkness, Oliver Ormsby, Elisha Ormsby, 
Eseck Buftum, Isaac Benson, Ebenezer Peters, John Garish, Asa 
Chase, John Benson, Joseph Aldrich, Thadeus Stockwell. 

N^o. 13. — Jacob Bump, John Wing, Joseph Wing, Jonathan 
Sweet, Richard Sweet, Paul Handy, James Cargil, Ebenezer Miller, 
Ebenezer Miller, 2d, Solomon Aldrich, Israel Peters, Amos Born, 
Stephen Born, Nathan Bowen, Anthony Sweet, Jonathan Sweet, 
2d, Josiah Woodard, Daniel Burlinggam. 

N'o. 14. — Moses Buffum, Abraham Philips, James Ballou, James 
Ballou, 2d, Oziel Ballou, Daniel Ballou, Russel Ballou, Seth 
Ballou, Stephen Ballard, Silas Ballou, Samuel Hunting, Jonathan 
Cook, Nathan Cook, Jacob Southwick, David Bolles. 

A^o. 15. — Paul Boyce, John Boyce, Cadish Boyce, Nathan 
Boyce, Jacob Boyce. 

No. 16. — Joseph Newel, Benoni Aldrich, Lott Aldrich, Jona- 
than Bolles, Simeon Thayer, David Bolles, Nathaniel Bolles, John 
Bolles, Solomon Bolles, George Buftum, John Robinson, Benjamin 
Buft'um, Peter Robinson, William Bolles, Rufus Dexter. 

No. 17. — Ebenezer Swan, George Martin, Peter Martin, Robert 
Work, Moses Martin, Robert Work, 2d, John Brimer. 

No. IS. — Martin Barney, Nathan Wooley, Joseph Barney, 
Richard Peters, Nathaniel Taft, Joseph Jaseph, Anthony Harris, 
Jeremiah Simmons. 

No. 9. — Joseph Cass, 2d, Elisha Knapp, Mordica Cass, Aaron 
Peck, William Weeks. 

No. :?(?.— Jonathan Garskill, Verny Garskill, Caleb Buffum, 
Samuel Garskill, Jazaniah Barret, Nathaniel Bowen. 

A Revisal of the School Destricts by James Kingsley, Moses 
Tyler, Selectmen, Anno Domini, lySy. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 127 

After this districting, changes were made quite 
often, by annexing or disannexing certain persons 
and their estates from one school district to another 
until 1816, when the number of school districts was 
reduced to fifteen. This number was retained until a 
new district was made in the middle of the town about 
1848, called District No. i6. Since the latter date, the 
number of districts has decreased. The number of 
scholars of late in the north-east part of the town, and 
also in the south-east, has been so few that schools 
in these localities have been mostly discontinued. 
District No. lo has been annexed for school purposes 
to the adjoining school district in Swansey. The 
practical working of this union has been unsatisfac- 
tory to the town, as the entire tax assessed on all the 
ratable estates in the district has to be turned over to 
Swansey for the schooling of four or live scholars. 
In 1883, there were eleven schools in as many 
districts, with one hundred and fifty-live scholars in 
all, of which seventeen were over sixteen years of 
age, while in 1806 there were five hundred and 
eighty-nine scholars, which included probably some 
older than are now classed as such, showing, by 
marked contrast, a great change in the vital statistics 
of the town. The following table may be of interest 
in showing the districts in 1816, the prudential com- 
mittee in same, and amounts expended in each : — 

No. I. Rufus Whipple, $59 20 

" 2. Cjiel Garnsey, 6 96 

" 3. David Ilolbrook, 34 7S 

'* 4. John BoUes, 43 'j6 

" 5. Ezra Martin, 56 9S 

" 6. Moses Allen, Jr • 7' 04 

7. Martin Ellis, 17 02 

S. Edward Fuller, 17 02 



128 HISTORY OF THE 

No. 9. Robert Swan. 30 34 

" 10. Ona Aldrich, 23 6S 

" II. Oliver Perry, 5 iS 

" 12. Anthony Corey, 24 42 

" 13. Nathan Bowen, . • ^2 iS 

" 14. John Boyce, 9 62 

" 15. Wm. Fairbrother, 2 22 

Total amount, $444 60 

The town has never had a high school. The 
nearest approximation to one was a school kept by 
Harvey Jewell of Winchester in the vestry of the 
Brick church, in 1840, in which some of the higher 
branches were taught. This was attended by scholars 
from all parts of the town, and many received ma- 
terial benefit, no doubt, from attendance on this one 
brief term. It was supported by subscription. 

The Friends^ School. 

During the earlier and more flourishing period 
of the Quaker society, the Friends had a school 
separate from the common school, which was called 
the pole district, they drawing their proportion of the 
school money. This was kept most of the time at 
their meeting-house after the same w^as built in 1790 ; 
but before this time, it was kept at various places — 
sometimes in the east part of the town, at Paul 
Jillson's, and sometimes at Peleg Taft's in the west. 
Schools under their direction were continued until 
about 1825. The last of these was at Peregrine 
Wheeler's shop, Joanna Allen being teacher. After 
this the project was abandoned, and a return w^as 
made to the only sensible system yet devised — the 
common school — created and sustained by law as 
the most fitting and proper place for the education of 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I29 

all children born on American soil, or destined to be- 
come citizens of the great Republic. The oppor- 
tunities ever have been meagre tor acquiring an 
education when compared with the facilities offered 
by most of the larger towns of to-day. Schools in 
all of the districts have rarely been kept six months 
in the year, and in many, perhaps, not over three ; 
hence those who have succeeded in obtaining a fair 
education have had to rely largely on their own ex- 
ertions for such literary attainments as they may have 
acquired. Of those born in town who have had a 
collegiate education but few appear on the list ; but 
to the credit of the town it may be said that she has 
furnished a fair and full quota to the country of men 
of talent, enterprise, and distinction. 

Collegians and Teachers. 

George Cook, son of Simeon Cook, born Aug. 31, 1S17. Gradua- 
ted at Amherst College. 

Rev. Lorenzo R. Thnyer, son of Uriah Thayer, born Dec. 2, 
1814. Graduated at Wesleyan University. Middletown, Ct. 

Rev. Silas Parsons Cook, son of Simeon Cook, Jr., born Oct. iS, 
1S45. Graduated at Harvard College. 

Rev. Randall H. Aldrich, son of Hosea B. Aldrich, born June, 
1S50. Graduated at Tufts College. 

Arthur P. French, son of Dr. Samuel P. French, born March 5, 
1S44. Graduated at Dartmouth College. 

List of Persons in Town Knoxvn to Have Been Teachers. 

Dr. Aaron Aldrich, Jonathan Garnsey, Buffum Allen, Orrin M. 
Allen, Hosea Boorn, Silas Ballou, James Ballou, Jr., James Ballou, 
3d, Olney Ballou, Alvan Barrus, Hosea Boorn, Elisha Bassett, 
Ahaz Bassett, Daniel Bassett, Jr., Wm. Bassett, Dr. Britton, Oliver 
Barrus, George Cook, Simeon Cook, Jr., Augustus Cass, Kendall 
Fisher, Nathan Harkness, Buft'um Harkness, Elijah Harkness, 
Elisha Harkness, Elijah Harkness, Jr., Dennis Harkness, Asahel 
Kilton, Joseph Man, David Randall, David Randall, 2d, Danford 
Tyler, Russell Whipple, Sally Bisbee, Ruth Allen, Clarissa Raw- 
9 



I30 



HISTORY OF THE 



son, Joanna Allen, Lucj Peters, Atlanta Martin, Sally Cass, 
Sarah Bowen, Mary Randall, Lona Aldrich, Phebe Bowen, Helen 
H. M. Barden, Clara Barden, Mary Barden, Caroline P. Rich, 
Patience A. Tyler, Laura J. Tyler, Rhoda G. Tyler, Judana Tyler, 
Sarah Randall, Olive Barrus. 



SCHOOLHOUSES BUILT. 

District No. I. 

The house in District No. i was probably built 
about 1775, the time they petitioned to be set off in a 
squadron, and was repaired in 1808 at an expense of 
$10.14, and again in 1815 more extensive repairs 
were made, amounting to $40.22. The district at 
this latter date embraced nearly all of the district now 
numbered fourteen, and the following copy of the 
assessment of the tax for this repair may be of interest 
to some by showing the changes of residents therein : 



Wyman Thayer $o 69 

Laban Thornton i 27 

Moses Garnsey 48 

Cyrus Whipple 141 

William Whipple 30 

Azariah Whipple i 02 

Isquire Whipple 70 

Isquire Whipple, Jr. ... 36 

Charles Whipple 42 

Rufus Whipple i 06 

Moses Tyler 2 28 

Lemuel Atherton 1 71 

Jona. & Saben Atherton . . 2 94 

Michael Barrus 30 

Sam'l Barrus i 23 

John Smith 15 

Aaron Kelton i 23 

Ebenezer Cheena i 24 

Joseph Wate 30 

Othanial Day 22 

Jonathan Barrus 45 

Samuel Kimpton i 05 



Ichabod Whipple $1 26 

Barnabas Barrus 75 

John Barrus 75 

Ebenezer Barrus 61 

Dan. Whipple i 87 

Nathaniel Whipple .... 42 

Enoch Whipple 30 

Thomas Goddard 2 25 

William Goddard .... 1 00 

Ebenezer Blanding .... i 18 

Elisha Brigham i 06 

Benoni Ballou 30 

Oliver Barrus 69 

Jeremiah Barrus i 26 

Jared Ballou i 06 

Daniel Wiswell 45 

Joseph Holbrook i 86 

Town send Parker .... 39 

Jacob & Sam. Parker ... i 59 

Oliver Barrus 75 

Milieus Barrus 94 

Simeon Starn iS 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



131 



The house for which this assessment was made 
continued to be used until the present new house of 
modern construction was built in 1S57, at a cost of 
$458.86. 

District No. 2. 

The first house in this district was built about 1775, 
on the old road between John Dandly's and Joseph 
Cass'. This was burnt, and another erected in its 
place. This served the district until 1S32, when a 
new house was built north of the Grindall Thayer 
place. This has been removed to the cross-road 
south of the Wyman Thayer place. The tax as- 
sessed on the following named persons for its building 
was $74.83, viz. : — 



Daniel BulTiim . . . 


. Si7 dx 


Thompson Thfiver . 


. 10 40 


Wjman C. Thayer . 


• 4 74 


Cyrus Taylor . . . 


• 7 34 


William Whipple . . 


• 2 59 


John Scott 


. 21 00 



Uriah Thayer $2 67 

Lemuel Taylor 6S 

Asa and John Alexander . i 13 
Augustus Arnfold .... i 69 

Abel H. Fassett 2 48 

Francis McClear 3 48 



District No. J. 

The schools in this district were kept in private 
houses until the school-house now standinjif in the 
district was built. 

District No. 4. 

The school-house in District No. 4 formerly stood 
on the piece of road now discontinued south of Levi 
Randall's. 

District No. 5. 

The school-house in this district was nearly a 
square, wath a high roof, and was on the road near 
the Otis Cass place. It was removed to the foot of 



132 



HISTORY OF THE 



the hill, a little to the east of where Ansel Harris now 
lives. This was occupied until the new house now 
in use was built, in 1855, at an expense of $672.56. 

District No. 6. 

School District No. 6 was carved out of other 
districts, and formed in 1815 ; and the old brick 
school-house was built the same year at an ex- 
pense of $283.55. This district extended from 
Captain Crooker's to Benjamin Dexters and Obe- 
diah Sprague's, and also from Gideon Man's, Jr., 
to Benjamin Kelton's. Jonathan Cass always sent to 
this district. The following list of assessment shows 
the tax-payers of the district at that time : — 



Benj. Crooker 










.$24 


48 


Gideon Man . . 








$15 15 


Joseph Howard . 








• 3 


12 


Joseph Bnffnm . 








6 23 


Joseph Weeks . 








5 


24 


Benjamin Dexter 








iS 91 


Jonathan Rawson 








. 10 


91 


Zacheus Wheeler 








2 96 


Daniel C. Bryant 








I 


47 


Nathan Williams 








2 12 


Carlton Bryant . 








2 


54 


George Harkness 








4 87 


Wm. Buiynni . 










3 


17 


Benjamin Man . 








II 23 


Timothy Cole 










2 


54 


William Weeks . 








5 50 


Candace Howe 










5 


-9 


Jacob Sweet . . 








10 47 


Esek Butfnm . 










22 


31 


Ezra Cole . . . 








10 26 


George Buffum 










-7 


22 


Benjamin Kelton 








i^ 34 


Moses Allen, Jr 


, . 








12 


82 


Hannah Kelton . 








5 37 


Moses Allen . 










10 


05 


Obadiah Sprague . 








21 71 


Jerahmeel Allen . 








6 


84 


Enos Holbrook . 








15 68 


Lilburn Allen . 










2 


75 













This house was used until 1850, when it was de- 
molished, and the new house built on the site was 
erected. 

District No. 7. 

The school-house in District No. 7 was built about 
1830, and has served the district for more than fifty 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



133 



years, and is now removed to near the place once 
occupied by David Perry and others. The change 
in location has been made for the purpose of uniting 
Districts Nos. 7 and S. 

District No. 8. 

The school-house in District No. 8 was built in 
1852, at a cost of $100,51, and was located south of 
Aaron Miller's place, on the east side of the road. 
The union of this district with No. 7 obviates the 
necessity of its further use. 

District No. TO. 

The school-house in this district was located near 
the junction of the roads leading by the house of Levi 
Aldrich and the house of Nathan Aldrich. The 
house is now gone, and the district is annexed to the 
adjoining district in Swansey. 



District No. 14. 

The first school-house in District No. 14 was built 
in 1822. The district was mostl}'^ taken from District 
No. I. The amount expended for building the house 
was $90.31, which was assessed on the following 
persons, viz. : 



Jeremiah Barrus . . . • $ 7 73 

Jeremiah Barrus, 2d, . . i 95 

Elisha Brigliam • . . . 5 55 

Oliver Barrus 6 48 

Oliver Barrus' heirs . . i 95 

Jonathan Barrus .... i 95 

Jared Ballou 6 68 

David Battles - 55 

Thomas Goddard .... 15 23 



Joseph Ilolbrook . . 
Sam'l Kimpton . . . 
Jacob and Sam'l Parke 
Townsend Parker . . 
Enoch Sprague . . . 
Nathan Ward .... 
Land of David Perry 
Simeon Stearns . . . 



$11 03 
6 98 
8 50 
2 70 

4 05 

5 iS 
90 
90 



This house is still used, but needs repairs. 



134 HISTORY OF THE 

A PART OF RICHMOND ANNEXED TO TROY. 

At the June session of the General Court, 1815, on 
petition of certain inhabitants living in the north-east 
part of Richmond, together with others mostly in the 
town of Marlboro', praying that they might be set off 
into a new town, it was enacted that the prayers of 
the petitioners be granted, and that a town by the 
name of Troy be made from territor}' belonging to 
Marlboro', Fitzwilliam, and Richmond. The fol- 
lowing extract from the Act describes the line be- 
tween Richmond and Troy : — 

Beginning at the north-west corner of tlie present boundaries of 
Fitzwilliam, thence nortiierly 262 Rods ; thence N. 72^°, W. 243 
Rods; thence N. ih°, E. 66 Rods ; thence S. 80°, W. 47 Rods; 
thence N. 1°, W. 145 Rods ; thence S. 84°, E. 52 Rods ; thence North 
80 Rods; thence N. 23°, E. 92 Rods; thence N. 30°, E. 27 Rods; 
thence N. i^°, W. 173 Rods; thence East 98 Rods; thence North 
il°, West 235 Rods; thence S. 82*, E. 32 Rods, to the Line between 
Marlboi-o' and Swansej. 

This line was made quite irregular, b}' reason of 
running around the farm of Oliver Peny, who 
stoutl}- refused to be set off to Troy. 

A PART OF RICHMOND ANNEXED TO WINCHESTER. 

, State of New Hampshire. 

In the 3'ear of our Lord one thousand eight liundrcd and fifty. 

An act to sever a tract of Land from the town of Richmond, and 
annex the same to the town of Winchester. 

Sec. 1st. Be it enacted bj the Senate and House of Represent- 
atives in General Court convened, that the tract of land con- 
tained within the following boundaries, to wit : Beginning at the 
north-west corner of the town of Richmond and running southerly 
on the line dividing Richmond from Winchester three hundred 
and forty rods to the south line of the road leading by Hollis 
Naromore's house, thence North 58° East to Swansey South Line 
at the north side of the new road leading from Swansey to Win- 







4 




TOWN OF RICHMOND. 1 35 

Chester; thence on Swansev South Line three hundred and forty 
rods to the corner between Svvansey and Richmond, be and it 
hereby is disannexed and separated from the town of Richmond, 
and is annexed to and made a part of said town of Wincho^tor, as 
fully and amply to all intents, as though it had been contained in 
and comprehended by the original grant, charter or incorporation 
of said Winchester. 

Sec. 2d. This act shall take eftect from and after its passage. 

N. B. BARKER, 
Speaker of (he House of Represeitlatir'es. 
RICHARD JENNESS, 

President of the Senate. 

Approved July 2, 1850. 

SAM'L DINSMORE, 

Governor. 

SECTIONAL PLAN OF THE TOWN AS BOUNDED 1882. 

The plan of the town (see page 24), shows its pres- 
ent boundaries, and was made on a diminished scale for 
the purpose of convenience of insertion in tliis work. 
Being about six miles square, it was divided into twelve 
ranges by lines running north and south about 160 
rods or a half mile apart, beginning at the east side 
to reckon from, and into twenty-four lots by lines 
running east and west about 80 rods, or one-fourth 
mile apart, beginning at the bay line. The reason 
why lot No. 24 seems to be in the place of lot No. i 
is that the first lot on the south side was originally a 
double lot, but was afterwards divided, and the 
southerly part was called No. 24. By an old plan 
accidentally found, made by Esquire Tyler about 
1810, which was in an old bundle left by him (and is 
the only one extant known at this time), we find 
that in some of the ranges this line of lots is dillerently 
numbered, viz. : in the eleventh and twelfth ranges it 
is named 22, and in ranges nine and ten it is called 
Lot 21. 



136 HISTORY OF THE 

TOPOGRAPHICAL. 

The town is more uneven than would be inferred 
from the description given in the "Farmer's Gazetteer." 
Some elevations called mountains would hardly be con- 
sidered as such in comparison with many of the 
Granite hills ; none probably exceed 2,000 feet in 
height. The land is generally rocky ; no tields of 
any considerable extent are free from these obstruc- 
tions ; ledges crop out here and there, showing the 
solid base on which the town rests. The drainage of 
the town is good ; no extensive swamps abound, 
breeding malarial diseases. The largest tract of 
swamp is south of Cass' pond, mostly west of Fall 
brook. The radius of this is probably less than half 
a mile. For the better comprehension by the reader 
of the general aspect of the town, we propose that he 
accompany us to a few points of observation, where 
the town may perhaps be seen to best advantage. 

Face of the Cou)itry. 

From the summit of Crooker hill (so called) near 
the territorial centre of the town, may be seen more 
of the town than from any other spot. This, although 
not so high as other elevations, is clear of obstruc- 
tions, and here good views may be obtained in all 
directions. Looking towards the north, the valle}'^ of 
the south branch of the Ashuelot comes into view, 
extending to Swanse3^ and then up the valle}' of the 
Ashuelot proper to Keene, and beyond to the Surry 
hills. The view of Keene, considering it is twelve 
miles away, is particularly fine. Small, indeed, it 
looks for a city, a mere speck in comparison with the 
broad plain upon which it stands. This plain, 



> 

(/I 



> 



r 
r 
o 
q 

D 
W 

r 




TOWN OF RICHMOND. I37 

enclosed by continuous ranges of hills and mountains 
on all sides, except the south, looks like a vast amphi- 
theatre in the panorama before you. The hills skirt- 
ing the valley on the west, known as the Franconia 
mountain, which extends northward to Swansey, is 
exceedingly precipitous and abrupt on its eastern de- 
clivity. Perpendicular clitls of lift}'^ feet and more 
extend north and south for long distances west of 
the Joseph Newell place. Large boulders and de- 
tached portions of ledges are scattered at the foot of 
these hills. On the east of this valley, the ascent is 
more gradual. The summit of this range is reached 
on the top of the Little Monadnock, near the boun- 
daries of Troy and Fitzwilliam. This is the highest 
peak in that direction, except the Grand Monadnock, 
which looms up in matchless grandeur, overtopping all 
other peaks and elevations in the state south of the 
White Mountains. Grassy hill, two miles distant to 
the east, is seen to advantage here. This hill proper 
extends about two miles north of the old turnpike, 
while that portion of the same range extending some 
distance to the southward was named Gaskill hill, 
from Jonathan and Silas Gaskill, who were the first 
settlers on that range. These hills have a surface 
more regular than those in the west, and, to the 
eye of the husbandman, are less defaced with ob- 
structions by huge rocks and ledges. More to the 
southward the eye rests on a vast expanse of more 
level land extending into the old Bay State. This is 
largel}' covered with a forest growth, and holds 
within its embrace Cass' pond, so called from Daniel 
Cass, the first settler on its western border. This 
pond, in its surroundings, retains all its primitive 
wildness. It is still enclosed bv an evergreen forest. 



138 HISTORY OF THE 

and the general aspect is probably the same as when 

The Indian in his bark canoe, 
Sped o'er its waters green and blue. 

East of the pond is Devilstair hill, so called 
in early time from the steps in the rocks by which 
his majesty is supposed to have ascended and de- 
scended the hill with more ease. Over this hill 
ran the first road made through town from Winchester 
to Royalston, traces of which may still be seen. Fol- 
lowing the outlet of Cass' pond for a mile or more, 
just over the line in Royalston, is the Royal cascade, 
the greatest natural curiosity in this vicinity. This 
name was given by Professor Hitchcock when he 
visited the spot some years ago, partly in reference to 
its " royal " character. In his description of the falls, 
he says that " the stream is not more than ten feet wide 
at the spot, but it descends forty-five feet at a single 
leap into a large basin, which from its top has been ex- 
cavated by the erosion of the waters. The sides, to 
the height of fifty or sixty feet, are formed of solid 
rock, now retreating and now projecting, crowned at 
the summit with trees. Man}' of these lean over the 
gulf, or have fallen across it, so that upon the whole, 
the scene is one of great wildness and interest." The 
place has become a popular resort for pic-nic and 
pleasure parties, and for some years there has been a 
general gathering here on the fourth of September, 
when persons from far and near assemble for the 
renewal of old friendships, and to exchange the 
kindlier greetings of social life. Still lurther east is 
the Tully, a brook that rises near the Little Monad- 
nock and runs south, and finally, after uniting with 
the west branch of the same, empties into Miller's 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I39 

river, in Athol. Tlie well-known Ballon neighbor- 
hood embraces the southern portion of this valley in 
town, and has a pleasant view to the southward. 
The hill north of Four corners, the Buflum hill, 
so called from the first settler on the same, Jede- 
diah Buflum, is a noticeable prominence in town, 
from the summit of which fine views may be had 
of the southern portion of the town. From this, 
Parker hill, near the Massachusetts line, named from 
Reuben Parker, who settled near it, is clearly out- 
lined as one of the higher eminences, as also is 
Whipple hill, still further west, which merges into 
Pudding hill, so called in Winchester. The view 
from the St. Clair place is exceedingly beautiful and 
extensive, in nearly all directions. Here the Grand 
Monadnock, the Northern hills, and the Green Moun- 
tain range, are clearly exhibited to the view of the 
beholder on any clear day. Peaked and Second 
mountains, partly in Winchester, are the more 
noticed, and are of higher elevations ; but neither of 
these can much, if any, exceed in height the Attle- 
boro' mountain, which is about two miles west-by- 
north from the middle of the town. This eminence 
shuts out from view the north-west part of the town 
from any point considered, except from Whipple hill, 
and from there a partial view may be gleaned of land 
lying between this and the Ashuelot range of moun- 
tains in Winchester. The drainage of nearly all of 
the west part of the town is by the brook at first 
called Norwood's, from Francis Norwood, who 
settled near the same. Afterwards it was mentioned 
as the Great brook, and later has been known as 
Roaring brook. A tributary to this is the Tilsey, 
which was so named from James Tilson, who settled 



140 HISTORY OF THE 

near the confluence of this with Norwood's brook. 
The Tilsey rises near Sandy pond, and ma}' have 
been at some period in the past the outlet of the same. 
The two principal ponds are worthy of special men- 
tion. The Cass pond, the largest, is nearly a mile 
long, and probably less than a half of that in width, 
and is somewhat in shape of the letter S ; it is situated 
in lots 6 and 7, in the fifth and sixth ranges. It is fed 
by springs, and has one outlet by Fall brook into the 
Tully. The dimensions of Sandy pond are consid- 
erably less than Cass', probably about one-third the 
size, situated in lot 14, in the seventh range. This, 
too, is fed by springs, and has an outlet by North 
brook, through Swansey. Both of these have a 
sandy bottom, and the water is clear as crystal. 
The pickerel, perch, and trout abound, and large 
numbers of the same are annually taken by the 
anglers in the vicinity. The echoes of Cass' pond 
are worthy of note. Its surroundings are such as to 
produce very perfect echoes, and it might appropri- 
ately be called Echo lake. 

The old canoe which was formerly on Cass' pond 
is still remembered as a very convenient and service- 
able craft, stable and safe. It was nearly twenty 
feet long by four in width, and was made from two 
very large pine logs, placed side by side, fi.tted to 
each other, and hollowed out. It was made about 
1820, and dedicated to the use of the public without 
restrictions ; but the generosity of the donors was ill 
requited by some envious or evil-disposed persons, 
who cut the boat in two to prevent certain other ones 
from using it. The two parts were afterwards sunk 
somewhere in the pond to rise no more. 

On the southern border of Cass' pond is a place of 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



141 



historic interest, known as the Baptizing place. 
This was where the members of the first Baptist 
church generally were baptized, and was a famous 
place for bathing in the early time. The bottom here 
is particularly clear and hard, and the slope quite 
gentle. It was not uncommon for fifty or more to 
assemble here on a Sunday morning in summer, and 
have a " gay old time." 

GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL. 

A brief extract from the report of a survey of the 
state, made by Charles T. Jackson, in 1844, contains 
some information worthy of special mention. He 
says that : — 

The land in this town is hilly, but none of the elevations are of 
sufficient height to receive the appellation of mountains. The 
rocks are granite, mica, slate, hornblende rock, and talcose rock or 
soapstone. The soapstone bed is two miles S. W. by S. from 
Richmond meeting-house, on the south side of Roaring brook and 
one mile from the Massachusetts state line, and on elevated hind. 
It has a north and south course, and dips W. 45°. The bed is 42 
feet wide, and has been traced for the distance of a mile on the 
hills to the southward, or to the state line. 

The talcose rock or soapstone, is not stratilied, but crysfalline, 
being made up of interlaced crystals and laminic of talc, with 
occasional fibres of hornblende. In opening the quarry, the fol- 
lowing accompanying minerals were thrown out, and were derived 
from the wall rock of the bed, quartz, felspar, phosphate of lime, 
pinite rutile, iron pyrites, garnets, calcareous spar, and hornblende 
crystals. Anthrophyllite and iolite of great beauty are found, 
lolite is a rare mineral, and no other locality in this country fur- 
nishes so finely colored specimens as this spot. 

The soap-stone bed is on the farm recently owned 
by Lorenzo Harris. 

Prof. Hitchcock, in his recent survey of the state, 
divides the rocks into two groups, or classes, by a 
line extending from the north-east corner of the town, 



142 HISTORY OF THE 

south-westerly, neai* the Four corners, to the south 
side of Peaked mountain on the Winchester line. 
Those on the east and south of the line he calls the 
Montalban series, and those on the west the Bethle- 
hem gneiss. Divested of the scientific terms, both 
kinds are a species of gneiss, a rock which resembles 
the granite, only that in the one is an admixture of 
some few substances not found in the other, and is of a 
coarser quality, but substantially of the same compo- 
sition. The gneiss, however, is stratified, while the 
granite is not. That the rocks, and consequently the 
soil, is different in these sections is quite probable, as 
is shown by the fact that the chestnut and white oak 
found growing in the native forest in the west part is 
rarely, if ever, found east of a line extending north 
and south through Cass' pond. No essential differ- 
ence in the fertility of the soil is observable in the two 
sections, some parts of each being more productive 
than other parts. Probably the silica in the soil is 
too abundant, generally, for the highest success in 
farming. Select portions of land in different parts of 
the town will bear favorable comparison with much 
of the land under cultivation in New England. For 
grazing, the land east of Tully is good, the best, per- 
haps, of any in town. In all, the rocks are too 
abundant for easy culture. The land, however 
neglected, is not destined to go to waste, containing 
as it does the elements that largely enter the compo- 
sition of valuable forest trees, of which the white 
pine is preeminent, both for the value of the timber 
and the rapidity of its growth. The seeds of these 
trees readily germinate, and grow on almost any 
land, exhausted though it be of its fertility by con- 
tinuous cropping, and in thirty years the trees may be 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I43 

sizeable for lumber. This feature of recuperation 
and growth constitute the redeeming qualities of the 
land, which otherwise might become either a barren 
waste or be covered with kinds of wood of no great 
value. But as now it is worth as much per acre as 
sprout land averages in the state, at five dollars per acre 
for ground well seeded, an investment in the same 
would seem quite safe and profitable, and this is 
about the valuation affixed by the assessors. Farm- 
ing, which is and ever must be the leading interest of 
the town, needs encouragement. The abandonment 
of many farms may be attributable not so much to the 
unproductiveness of the soil as to the methods adopted 
in carrying them on. Some improvements have been 
made in agriculture worthy of adoption, which would 
tend yearly in the summing up of accounts to leave 
the balance on the right side of the ledger. These in 
course of time, it is hoped, will find their way to 
farms which may be made to pay under a new and 
more improved system of agriculture, but which 
under the old would be destined to return to the 
wilderness again. The land, moreover, has other 
redeeming qualities worthy of special mention. The 
substratum of the soil is largely hard-pan, and in 
some parts is quite impervious to water. Hence, the 
land is susceptible of sustaining a prolonged drought 
without serious detriment to the growing crops, whilst 
more porous soils would become dried and crisp 
under the burning summer sun. The humidity of 
the soil is such in many parts as to cause an immense 
growth of such plants as thrive only in a moist 
soil. This is noticeable particularly in the high- 
blueberry bush, which seems to luxuriate in per- 
fection. Pastures covered with these are counted 



144 HISTORY OF THE 

among the more profitable portions of real estate, and 
have a tixed value correspondingly high with other 
lands. 

Plumbago (black-lead) is Ibund on the Randall 
farm, in the north-east part of the town. Specimens 
sufficiently pure for stove-polish have been taken 
from the mine. A more thorough examination would 
probably reveal larger quantities of a purer quality 
that would pay for the working. 

MILITARY MATTERS. 

Trainings, Musters^ Etc. 

Yankee Doodle came to town 

Riding on a pony, 
Stuck a feather in his cap, 

And called it Macaroni. 

Soon after the war of the Revolution, in 1783, the 
first constitution of the state was formed, in which 
was affirmed in the bill of rights that " a well-regu- 
lated militia is the proper, natural, and sure defence 
of a state " ; and the people, believing in the maxim 
of Washington, that " in time of peace prepare for 
war" — a lesson that had been learned by experience 
in their late conflict — incorporated the first militia act 
into the body of the laws enacted at this time. The 
provisions of this were such that every male inhabitant 
between the ages of eighteen and forty-five should be 
enrolled, and, with few exceptions, should perform 
military duty, which consisted of an annual training 
on the third Tuesday of May, and one other training 
and a muster in the autumn of each year. Com- 
panies thus formed of all liable to do military duty 
presented usually a unique and ofttimes an amusing 
spectacle to the beholder. All except the officers 




\^ 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I45 

were ununiformed, each being attired in such cos- 
tume as his convenience or fancy might suggest, 
without any special regard to uniformity in equip- 
ment; hence, it may be easily imagined what a 
grotesque appearance such a motly crowd would 
present on training days. The officers usually stood 
oil their dignity, and with fuss and feathers, aftwr the 
music of a fife and drum, manoeuvred them as best 
they could for two or three hours according to the 
militar}'- tactics of the times. The militia of the town 
was divided into two companies previous to the 
organization of the Grenadiers, the county road 
being the dividing line between them. These were 
called the " old Militia," but more often by the boys 
denominated the " old Floodwood," by reason of the 
mixed-up and irregular movements exhibited in their 
evolutions. These trainings, before the opening of 
the turnpike, were usually at the middle of the town, 
near the Baptist meeting-house, but at later times 
were more common at the Four corners. Some of 
the captains of these old companies are remembered, 
such as Ebenezer and Robert Swan, Jacob Parker, 
Jacob Sweet, Paul and Silas Jillson, Enoch Sprague, 
Jesse Bolles, Samuel D. Allen, and others. 
. These annual parades continued until about 1848. 
Since then a simple enrollment of all liable to military 
duty answers the requirements of the law. 

In addition to the old militia companies, in almost 
every town there was one or more volunteer com- 
panies that prided themselves on their gay uniforms, 
neat equipage, and thoroughness in evolution and 
military drill. In this town was an organization 
of this kind formed about 1816, called the "Rich- 
mond Grenadiers." This company, under the com- 



146 HISTORY OF THE 

mand of Capt. Stephen Wheeler, jr., about 1835, 
attained a degree of excellence in the celerity and 
precision of movement rarely equalled by any com- 
pany in the regiment. The company was uniformed 
with leather caps and black plumes, blue coats, white 
pants, with broad bands of red velvet around the 
lower part. The company on parade made an im^ 
posing show, and were evidently justly entitled to the 
high encomiums they uniformly received for their 
efficiency in drill and evolution. The following are 
known to have been captains of this company, viz. : 
Stephen Buffum, Luke Harris, Henry Starkey, 
Asahel Kilton, William Woodward, Amos Bennett, 
Ballon Swan, Stephen Wheeler, Elijah Crooker, 
Henry Rice, Alvan Barrus, Otis Martin, D. B. Al- 
drich, Edson Starkey, and A. J. Bullock. 

The Grenadiers were disbanded about 1848, and 
soon after a new independent company was formed 
called the Richmond Guards. The uniforms were 
bought of the Royalston Guards, a company dis- 
banded about that time. The following were the 
officers of the new company, viz. : Edson Starkey, 
Captain ; Jesse Bolles, ist Lieut. ; Cyrel Amadou, 
2d Lieut., and Nathan G. Woodbury, Ensign. 
This company was commissioned April 30, 1850. 
It mustered at a brigade muster in Keene, 1850, and 
received much praise from the field officers of the 
day, and also favorable notices from the press re- 
ports of the muster. * 

This company disbanded soon after the law was 
repealed, which gave to the members of independent 
companies three dollars per year for their military 
services. Some of the captains of the Grenadier 
company were promoted to positions of regimental 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 1^7 

field and staff officers. Such were Col. Stephen 
Buffum, Col. Ballon Swan, Col. Amos Bennett, 
and Col. Henr}^ Starkey. 

Musters. 

Two regimental musters have been held in town of 
the several companies of militia and volunteers in the 
towns of Winchester, Hinsdale, Chesterfield, Swan- 
sey, and Richmond, constituting the sixth New 
Hampshire regiment. The first of these musters 
was in 1824, and the field selected was in George 
Buffum's pasture, near the Razee woods. Stephen 
Buffum was colonel at this time. It is remembered 
as a rainy day, wholly unfit for a military parade. 

The second was in 1838. Cheney, of Chesterfield, 
was colonel, and the ground chosen for the muster 
was on the plain on the south side of the road west 
of Stephen Buftum's. The day was fair, and every- 
thing went merry as a marriage bell, except that the 
liberty pole was cut down the night before by some- 
one, supposed to be Ira Wetherby, of Chesterfield. 

Cornwall is Celebration. 

The anniversary of the surrender of Cornwallis 
was celebrated in Richmond on the nineteenth day of 
October, 1835, ^"^ ^^'^s participated in by the old 
Militia company and Grenadiers of this town, and 
also by a party of Indians, under their sachem and 
chief, Ballon Swan, who was accompanied by his 
chief squaw, Luther Cass, and about forty others of 
the same tribe. These Richmond forces were re- 
enforced by companies from Troy and Swansey. 

Two forts into which the British forces were driven 



148 HISTORY OF THE 

were successively taken and burned after a most 
gallant defence. The first was near the north-east 
corner of the widow Howe's pasture ; the other was 
in the pasture south-east of Benoni Ballou's. This 
was an interesting and in some of its phases an 
amusing exhibition, the like of which was never be- 
fore or since seen in town. The rendezvous of the 
Indians was at the old brick school-house, and 
Horatio A. Nelson was medicine-man, or prophet, 
and distinguishable from the others by his gay 
plumes and trappings. 

Esquire Rufus Whipple was quite often chief of a 
tribe of Indians rendezvoused near the muster-field, 
and made occasional sallies and predatory excursions 
during the day. 

PAUPERS. 

The town was exceptionally free from pauperism 
during its early history. No mention is made of 
paupers or appropriations for the support of the 
poor prior to 1788, when the town voted "to send a 
man into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to 
ascertain what method to take with Thomas Wooley 
in regard to his maintenance." The first pauper then 
was not a poor man who had come to town to gain a 
living solely by his labor, but was one who was 
among the first settlers, and was one of the larger 
land-owners of the town. What mishap befel the 
man, or what reverses he experienced, we may not 
know of a certainty. It was not because of the fall of 
stocks and bonds, or the work of bulls and bears, 
but by reason, we are told, of the profligacy or im- 
providence of his sons ; and his downfall finally was 
caused, as tradition says, by signing notes to bolster 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 149 

the shiftless fellows up. However this may have 
been, the burden was soon removed. He died in 
1792. 

The great precautions used to prevent vagabonds 
from other places gaining a settlement, by warning 
suspected persons who might come in to leave the 
town in fourteen days, did not, of course, prevent 
pauperism, but may have lessened the number who 
might have become dependants on public charity. 
The town was vigilant in other respects in diminish- 
ing the number of its burdens. The practice was 
quite common formerly in this border town of running 
paupers over the line into Massachusetts, provided 
they had settlements in that state. This was a 
hazardous undertaking, as it was a criminal offence 
under the laws of Massachusetts. The carrier was 
liable to a fine or imprisonment if caught ; but this 
did not deter some from running the risk of capture, 
and at times whole loads of Massachusetts paupers 
were summarily landed in the dooryard of some 
Royalston selectman who might live nearest the line. 
Provided with fleet horses, the drivers were usually 
beyond the reach of capture before the astounded 
selectman fully comprehended the situation. Other 
methods of relief have occasionally been resorted to, 
which may at first sight appear as a violation of good 
comity between the town and other communities. 
Within this class of expedients may be included the 
practice of marrying paupers, prospective or real, of 
the gentler sex, who apparently should have had hus- 
bands before, to some "dead beat" of another town. 
Another way of ridding the town of incumbrances 
rarely resorted to was to ship them west to some 
place they might desire to go. The cost of maintain- 



150 HISTORY OF THE 

ing paupers some years ago was small, the price ^er 
capita varying from six and a quarter to seventy-five 
cents per week, depending largely on the amount of 
labor that might be forced from them. The alms- 
house system was never adopted. The less expen- 
sive practice of selling their keeping to the lowest 
bidder on town-meeting days was the popular mode 
of dealing. In this neither the wishes of the pauper 
or the character of the bidder were of much account. 
The old maxim, that "beggars must not be choosers," 
seemed to have the right ring. Places distasteful to 
paupers might be good enough for poor, lazy louts 
that would not work enough to support themselves. 
It was not considered good policy to have the situ- 
ation of a pauper particularly agreeable, as pleasant 
surroundings might tend to invite new comers, and 
be equivalent to offering a bounty on laziness. The 
auction system of disposing of the poor continued 
until about the time of the beginning of the anti- 
slavery agitation, say about 1845, when some said 
" that selling paupers at vendue was not much better 
than nigger slavery, and that we had better correct 
evils at home before going abroad." The argument 
seemed conclusive, and the old favorite method was 
abandoned for the more humane practice of putting 
them out in such families as the selectmen, who have 
ever been overseers of the poor, might in their judg- 
ment deem proper. The change in the pauper laws, 
transferring to the county the charge of maintenance 
of many whose settlements dated back to the early 
time, relieved the town to a considerable extent. At 
present, the list is small. For the 3^ear 1882 mem- 
bers of three families only received assistance as the 
town's poor, at an expense of $235.37, and most of 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I5I 

this was expended by reason of the sickness and 
death of one individual. The amount expended for 
tive county paupers living in town was $204.75. Aside 
from the exceptional expenditure of the one that died, 
the whole cost to the town for all its poor was only 
$121.50. 

A change was made in the method of disposing of 
the poor about 1865. The keeping of all was given 
to one man, on a contract for five years, and as the 
most of them died within a year or two, the pre- 
sumption is that the contractor got the best of the 
bargain, but it does not appear that the town ex- 
pressed any regrets that the matter turned out thus. 

The novel plan adopted by the town in 1827 for 
doctoring the poor is exceptional, certainly. Hitherto 
the town had paid the doctors for attendance on the 
poor, and as their bills at times were considered un- 
reasonably high, the town resolved to try the plan of 
selling the doctoring of the poor to the lowest bidder 
at the annual March meeting, many believing that 
catnip and other good "airbs" would do them as much 
ijood. At this time the records show that the doctor- 
ing of the poor was sold to Nathaniel Naromore for 
$16.75, ^^''^^ the doctoring of Lois Estas, a county 
pauper, was sold to him for $4.75- 

Paupers once to him were sold, 

The lowest price, would say; 
Their doctoring, too, we are told 

Was sold town-meeting day. 
If wrong it was, between man and inan. 

This now we must confess, 
They saved some money by the plan. 

And made their paupers less. 



152 HISTORY OF THE 



CHAPTER V. 
POST-OFFICES AND POST-MASTERS, ETC. 



Post-offices and Post-masters — Physicians — Professional Men — Musicians — Band — 

— Inns and Inn Keepers — Stores and Store Keepers — Mills and Mill Owners — 
Tanneries — Mechanical Industries — Other Industries — Blacksmiths — Carpenters 

— Shoemakers — The Old Baptist Meeting House — Burial Places — Times of Sick- 
ness — Accidental Deaths — Fires — Town Meetings — Singing Schools — Nahum 
Grout — Solomon Atherton — Went to Law — A Great Fracas — A Temperance 
House — Shows and Exhibitions. 



The first post-office in town was established July 4, 
1812, when Jonathan Pierce of Royalston began car- 
rying the mail on the line from Worcester to Keene. 
The office at first was probably in the corner store, 
now kept by Mr. Norwood, but then owned by Job 
Bisbee & Co. It was afterwards removed to the 
widow Howe's tavern, and there kept until 1829. 
In 1832 the office returned to the old corner store, 
and has remained there most of the time since, 
except from 1845 to 1858, when J. Weeks was 
post-master. This office has had fifteen post-masters. 
Their names and dates of appointment are as fol- 
lows, viz. : — 

Job Bisbee, July 4, 1812. 

Ono. T. Cass, ]uly 24, 1829. 

Stephen Wheeler, Apr. 24, 1S32. 

John Parkhurst, Sept. 6, 1837. 

Danford Tyler, Nov. 10, 1S40. 

Jarvis Weeks, ]u\y 8, 1845. 

Amos G. Bennett, May 6, 1858. 

Daniel R. Spaulding, July 16, 1861. 

L. W. Wright, Dec. 19, 1870. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



^53 



Charles H. Lyon, 


May 


lO, 


1871. 


Amos Martin, 


Mar. 


7. 


1873- 


Andrew Dodge, 


July 


12, 


1875- 


Warren Kenop, 


Apr. 


6, 


1877. 


John E. Norwood, 


Dec. 


1 8, 


1877. 


Charles Norwood, 


May 


7' 


1883. 



The post-office at North Richmond was established 
Sept. 15, 1853, at Harvey Martin's, and has remained 
there most of the time since. The following contains 
the names of the post-masters of this office and dates 
of their appointment, viz. ; — 



Harvey Martin, 
Edson Starkey, 
Harvey Martin, 
Discontinued, 
Re-established, 
Orlow E. Parsons, 
Orlan H. Martin, 



Sept. IS, 1853 

June 16, 1856 

Oct. 30, 1856 

June 17, 1879 

July 3, T879 

July 3, 1879 

Apr. 13, 18S0 



Cha7iges in Rates of Postage. 

The United States post-office department was established 17S9. 
At first and for many years the rate of postage was fixed not by 
weight, but by the number of separate sheets or pieces of paper 
contained in the letter. The single rate for one piece of paper was, 
for any distance not exceeding 40 miles, eight cents; not exceeding 
90 miles, ten cents; not exceeding 150 miles, twelve and a half 
cents; not exceeding 300 miles, seventeen cents; not exceeding 
500 miles, twenty cents; any distance over 500 miles, twenty- 
five cents. These rates made correspondence, especially with 
distant places, an expensive luxury, but the burden was not 
felt so much as we should now suppose it would have been, for 
our country was not so large as it is now, the settled portion of it 
not extending far from the sea coast. A journey of two hundred 
miles inland would bring the traveller into the unpeopled wilder- 
ness. Few persons travelled from their own homes, or had rela- 
tions of friendship or business with any beyond the limits of their 
own state. Cheap postage was then unknown anywhere, and if 
our forefathers felt that their letters cost more than they liked to 



154 HISTORY OF THE 

pay, thev met the difficulty by writing fewer, and never thought 
of cutting down the rates. But they did not pay double rates. If 
they had more to say than a moderate sized sheet would contain, 
they used larger paper. They had no envelopes, and the ability to 
fold a letter neatly, and seal it so that it could be opened without 
defacing the contents, was an accomplishment which every well- 
brought-up young person was obliged to acquire. Correspondents 
generally felt it a duty to cover the whole of their paper, as the ex- 
change of letters was rare and expensive, and it was wasteful to pay 
for one or two pages what would have paid for three or four. 

In 1816 the rates were changed, but without general reduction. 
For any distance not more than 30 miles, the postage for a single 
sheet was six and a quarter cents; not more than 80 miles, ten 
cents ; not more than 150 miles, twelve and a half cents; not more 
than 400 miles, eighteen and three-fourths cents ; more than 400 
miles, twenty-five cents. This schedule increased more uniformly 
than that which it superseded, the rate being doubled, tripled, 01 
quadrupled according to the distance, and the single rate being the 
now obsolete Spanish or Mexican coin, the fourpence-halfpenny, or, 
for short, fourpence of New England, sixpence of New York, the 
fippenn}- bit or picayune of the southern states. Those coins, and 
the ninepence, shilling, or bit, of the same origin, were more com- 
mon than the dimes and half dimes of our own mint, in those days, 
and all the transactions of retail trade were made in their terms. 
The practice survives yet in some parts of the country, but has 
nearly died out in New England. 

With the increase of travel and business, and especially with the 
development of railroads, came lower rates of postage. In 1S45 
letter postage was reduced to five cents the half ounce, the weight 
instead of the number of pieces of paper being taken as the stand- 
ard, but distance was still an element of cost. A single rate was 
paid for distances less than three hundred miles, and a double 
rate, or ten cents, for all greater distances. Contrary to expectation, 
this great reduction of rates proved very unprofitable at first to the 
post-office department. The number of letters sent did not increase 
so fast as had been anticipated, and the expense of carriage on the 
new railroad and other routes was large. By this time people were 
beginning to push into the new states and territories of the west, 
and the establishment of new post routes in those sparsely settled 
regions was burdensome to the department. At this time, too, the 
government began to guard more strictly its monopoly of postal 
business, and to use its authority to prevent the carriage of letters, 
as well as newspapers and other periodicals, by private hands. 
The post-office deficit became so large that an effort was made to 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 1 55 

restore the old rates of postage, but it failed, of course. Next 
came the reduction to three cents on all domestic letters, except 
those which were to cross the Rockv Mountains, for which the ten- 
cent rate was continued, but, though letters might be prepaid by a 
three-cent stamp, prepayment was not compulsory, and five cents 
was exacted if paid at the ofiice of delivery. But this plan did not 
work well, and in 1S55 prepayment was required. The people did 
not get used to this for some time, and the department was much 
perplexed to dispose of the unpaid letters, but that trouble has 
much diminished with better post-office regulations and more gen- 
eral familiarity with them. The department was self-sustaining 
for a short time during the civil war, when the long and unpro- 
ductive southern states were cut off. But as the authority of the 
government was restored and the old routes were re-established, 
the deficit returned. Postmaster General James, by his efficient 
business methods and his vigilance in detecting fraudulent prac- 
tices, reduced the expenditures and increased the earnings of the 
department, and the present surplus is the result. Our post-office 
department, so far as the prompt, safe and cheap carriage of the 
mails throughout a vast territory is concerned, is not excelled 
by that of any country in the world, but it cannot be said to be the 
equal of those of European countries until the system of delivery 
by carriers has been developed far beyond its present limits. It is 
provided in this country only in cities of twenty thousand inhabi- 
tants or more, and in them the deliveries are less frequent than in 
the English towns of like size. In England every village and 
hamlet has its carrier delivery, and there is scarcely a private 
dwelling above the dignity of a cottage, at which the postman is not 
a daily visitor. 

Among the commonplaces of modern civilization none is more 
wonderful or more beneficent than the complex organization by 
which the postal business of the world is carried on. The postal 
system of each country is only a branch of the great organism 
which, under the name of the International Postal Union, provides 
for the written inter-communication of mankind. You wish to 
send a letter to an interior town of Australia. You drop it, 
properly addressed and with five cent stamp affixed, into a box in 
the street, and in an hour or two it is on its way, traveling by 
the swiftest conveyance, with safety, speed and certainty to its 
destination. Its arrival can be foretold with almost absolute pre- 
cision. There is a remote possibility of its loss or destruction on 
the way, but the chance of it is less than one in ten thousand. The 
letter passes through many hands, and is carried by all the modes 
of conveyance known in civilized countries. It is delivered finally 



156 HISTORY OF THE 

by a postman at the door to which it is addressed. Between the 
letter-box here and the Australian postman is a space of twelve 
thousand miles or more. It is traversed regularly in about thirty 
days, and at a cost of five cents. This is one of the marvels of our 
time, and not the least of them. 

PHYSICIANS. 




Dr. Aaron Aldrich was chosen by the town "gram- 
mar-school master ''in 1778. He, together with his 
brother Solomon, settled on the farm north of Zimri 
Bowen's, towards the Benson place. But little is 
known of his practice. He removed from town early 
in its history to parts unknown. 

Dr. Ebenezer Swan came to town about i77^' '^"^^ 
bought the farm which has borne his name to a 
recent date. He married Tamison, the daughter of 
James Ballou, sr. He continued in practice until his 
death in 1820. 

Dr. Buftum Harkness, son of Nathan, studied 
medicine in Hoosack, Mass., and removed to western 
New York in 1804, where he attained a large and 
successful practice. Before his removal, he lived in 
the house afterwards occupied by Dr. Brittan, and 
may have practiced here for a short time. 

Dr. Amos Howe's advent into town was in i797« 
He established his office at first at Jedediah Buffum's, 
whose daughter Candace he soon married. The 
first public house at the Four corners, known after- 
wards as Mrs. Howe's tavern, was built by him about 
1798. He went into the army as a surgeon in 1812, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 1 57 

and died soon after while in service on the northern 
frontier. 

Dr. Martin Brittan commenced practice here about 
1809. He lived in a house nearly opposite Pere- 
grine Wheeler's, and after a practice of about two 
years he died while on a journey to the west. 

Dr. John Parkhurst, the next on the list of physi- 
cians, came from Marlboro', N. H., about 1811, and 
took quarters at Peregrine Wheeler's at first. He 
afterwards bought and lived on the place now owned 
by Edmond B. Southwick. He attained an extensive 
practice both in and out of town. His education was 
respectable, and his natural abilities were of the first 
order. He maintained a high standard among the 
physicians of the county, by whom he was often 
called in consultations on difficult cases. His prac- 
tice covered a period of nearly thirty years. He 
used his means for the promotion of other pursuits, 
having interests at times in the store on the corner, 
the potash, the saw-mill, and the blacksmith shop. 
In his early practice he had a number of students, 
some of whom are remembered as belonging to town. 
We recall the names of Darius Garnsey, Nathan 
Cook, and Russell Ballon, jr. All of these became 
successful practitioners in the several localities 
to which they went. In 1840 Dr. Parkhurst, with 
his son John, went on a visit to his brother's, in 
Pennsylvania, and from thence he never returned. 
He died soon after his arrival there of fever and 
dysentery, aged 59 years. 

Dr. George W. Hammond commenced practice in 
Richmond in 1824-5, and located at the middle of the 
town. He remained here a short time, and then re- 
moved to Gilsom in 1826, where he continued in sue- 



158 HISTORY OF THE 

cessful practice many years. He took for wife Miss 
Dianay Rawson, a daughter of Josiah Rawson, a 
highly accomplished lady of this town. 

Dr. Franklin Wallace made his debut herein 1835. 
He stayed but a few months, and then sought more 
inviting fields elsewhere. 

Dr. Lewis Ware was contemporary with Dr. 
Parkhurst, but the practice of each did not much 
interfere with each other, as Ware was a botanic 
travelling doctor, whose patients were mostly in Ver- 
mont. He was portly — would balance 250 — rode 
in an old one-horse chaise, and in his peregrinations 
was absent from home much of the time. He had 
little acquaintance with the citizens generally, living 
as he did in a corner of the town. His practice had 
the merit at least of causing no particular injury, if 
by chance it did no particular good. A fair estimate, 
however, would adjudge that his herbs were remedial, 
and that many having chronic complaints were bene- 
fitted thereby. 

Dr. Isaac P. Willis commenced practice at the 
middle of the town about 1833. He secured a fair 
share of practice, some of which he retained after his 
removal from town. After a short sojourn, he re- 
moved to Royalston, and finally succeeded to the 
large practice left by Dr. Stephen Batcheller, and 
served the people with " positive skill and science in 
his profession." 

Dr. Christopher C. Wheaton, a native of War- 
wick, Mass., formed a co-partnership with Dr. Park- 
hurst in 1836. His sojourn was quite limited. He 
removed to Winchester in 1838, where he succeeded 
in securing a large practice, which he retained until 
his death. While here, he kept one term of the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I59 

school in the brick school-house, District No. 6. He 
was well educated, and evinced a good degree of 
skill in his profession. Being of a social turn and of 
jovial disposition, he acquired a host of friends. He 
died in Winchester. 

Dr. Alvin Ballon, from Halifax, Vt., moved into 
town in 1840, and was the successor of Dr. Park- 
hurst. He was a lineal descendant of Rev. Maturin 
Ballou, the first minister, through his eldest son Ben- 
jamin and grandson Asahel. After remaining in 
successful practice here about three years he removed 
to Princeton, 111. 

Dr. Leander Smith, from Royalston, was prac- 
tically the successor of Dr. Ballou. He studied with 
Dr. Stephen Batcheller, and was well equipped for 
the business. He married Elizabeth, the only daugh- 
ter of Dr. Parkhurst, and moved to Pennsylvania 
with the rest of the family in 1845. His name as 
a physician is still held in good repute. 

Dr. Samuel P. French, the last but not the least of 
the physicians of Richmond, a native of Gilmanton, 
N. H., took the place vacated b}^ Dr. Smith in 1846. 
He was a graduate of Dartmouth college, and was 
well instructed in his profession. In literary attain- 
ments he was undoubtedly superior to any of his pre- 
decessors. His ability and worth as a citizen is 
well attested by the confidence reposed in him by 
electing him a representative to the General Court in 
1856. In professional practice he undoubtedly re- 
ceived a full and fair share of the business of the 
town ; but fields of labor more inviting, apparently, 
called him away. He removed to Winchester in 
1864, and after remaining there four years, removed 
to Warwick, Mass., in 1868. In both these places 



l6o HISTORY OF THE 

he appears to have secured a fair amount of practice ; 
but finally, in 1881, he returned to the people who 
had paid him the highest honors, and perhaps had 
rendered him the most substantial support. His 
earthly life was suddenly terminated by apoplexy 
while on a visit to a patient in February, 1882. 

Dr. Charles J. Town, from Stoddard, succeeded 
Dr. French in 1865. He left in 1867. 

Dr. Edward J. Dunnell came to town in 1868, and 
remained until about 1870. 

Dr. John Heard was here in 1873. He remained 
here but a few months. 

Dr. Joel R. Hardy occupied the field here for a 
short time in 1874. From this time forward to 1881, 
when Dr. French returned, the town was without a 
resident physician. Since the decease of Dr. French, 
Dr. George F. Shove, who occupied the pulpit of the 
Baptist church in 1882, has been the only resident 
physician. 



MINISTERS WHO WERE BORN OR BROUGHT UP IN 
TOWN. 
David Ballou, Moses B. Wheaton, 

Hosea Ballou, Reuben Bowen, jr. 

David Pickering, Lorenzo R. Thayer, 

Robert Bartlett, Randall H. Aldrich. 

PHYSICIANS BORN IN TOWN, SETTLED ELSEWHERE. 

Buffum Harkness, Russell Ballou, 

Nathan Cook, Darius Garnsey. 

MUSICIANS. 

Drummers — Bass. 

Ebenezer Ballou, Edwin P. Tenney, 

Israel C Hale, Benjamin Aldrich. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



i6i 



John Wooley, 
Luke Harris, 
Lewis Whipple, 



Drummers — Tenor. 

Leason Martin, 
Stephen Buffum. 



Moses Garnsey, 
Dan. Buffum, 
James Ballon, 

Willard Randall, 
James Ballon, 



Fijers. 



Clarinet. 



Bugler. 



Willard Randall, 
Olney Ballon. 



Lucien Streeter, 
Edwin N. Bowen. 



Holman Barrus. 

Trombone. 
Timothy Pickering, jr. 

Fiddlers. 
Ichabod Whipple, 
Benoni Ballon, 
Nathaniel Naromore, 



Nathaniel Naromore, jr., 
D. B. Aldrich, 
Timothy Pickering, jr. 



Bass Viol. 



Nathan Bowen, 
Alvan Atherton, 



Wheaton C. Jillson. 



BAND. 




The Richmond brass-band was organized June 5, 
1874, ^"<i continued until March 17th, 1883. The 
instruments were bought of John C. Haynes of Bos- 
ton, at a cost of $300. 



l62 



HISTORY OF THE 



List of Members. 

Nathan E. Tiittle, Cornet Leader, Lucius L. Fisher, Alto, 

Abner S. Barden, Bass Drum, 

Nathaniel Naromore, Solo Alto, 

Frank Amadon, Cornet, 

Orrin Brewer, Tenor, 

Albert E. Jillson, Basso, 

Edwin Amadon, Basso, 

Edwin N. Bowen, Clarinet, 



F. O. Bowen, Baritone, 
Orrin B. Howe, Basso, 
Willis D. Martin, Cornet, 
Silas O. Martin, Alto, 
George W. Goddard, Tenor, 
Hiram E. Mellen, Cornet, 
WatrousGarnsey, Tenor Drum. 



Adfnitted after Organization. 
Ozro C. Flint, Stephen A. Bullock, 



Leslie E. Smith, 



Henry Bullock. 



INNS AND INN-KEEPERS. 

The town from the earliest time has been provided 
with ample accommodations for the travelling public. 
Before the town had been settled five years, at least 
three places of public entertainment were opened 
on the line of the old Winchester and Royalston 
road. The number of persons at one time licensed 




as inn-keepers seems now to have been dispropor- 
tionate to the public needs. About 1800, eight per- 
sons are recorded as inn-holders licensed to sell 
spirituous and intoxicating liquors. As it is hardly 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 163 

possible that these could have been supported to any 
considerable extent by travellers, it is but reasonable 
to conclude that they were licensed largely to supply 
the local demands for ardent spirits, which soon after 
the Revolutionary war came into quite general use, 
and were regarded as one of the necessities of the 
household, and, in fact, indispensable in carrying on 
the more laborious parts of husbandry or mechanical 
business. New England rum was the liquor mostly 
used. The general use of this became quite com- 
mon, and is traceable largely, no doubt, to habits 
acquired by those out in the service, where the rations 
of soldiers consisted in part of New England rum. 
The immediate and remote consequences of this com- 
merce must have been disastrous to the social and 
material interests of the people, and a greater hin- 
drance than all other agencies combined to the highest 
development and prosperity of the town. A marked 
change in the use and traffic of alcoholic liquors has 
taken place within the last fifty years, and the use of 
these as a beverage has been nearly dispensed with 
by the people of the town. 

The first inn-holder in town of which we have any 
account was Deacon John Cass, whose tavern was in 
use in 1765- Timothy Thompson, who lived next 
east on the old road, is also named in 1766. Silas 
Gaskill was an inn-keeper in 1776, and lived on the 
Ebenezer Ballon place. Jonathan Thurber, first 
settler on the farm now owned by Charles H. Cass, 
had a large two-story house which was kept as a 
tavern until about 1825. Captain Isaac Benson's 
house, still standing, was built for an inn, and was 
used for that purpose from 1788 to about 1810. 
Luke Cass had a tavern, a large two-story house, on 



164 HISTORY OF THE 

or near the site of the residence of Nahum Cass, Esq., 
built about 1780. Samuel Curtis kept an inn on the 
Daniel Twitchell place from about 1770 to 1800. 
James Cook had a store, and was a licensed inn- 
keeper. The building was on the spot where the 
house of Edson Starkey, Es(|., now stands. Na- 
thaniel Taft's tavern was the house now occupied by 
David B. Aldrich, Esq., and was built in 1788. 
Lemuel Peters built the Crooker house, so called, in 
1790, designed especially for a public house, and was 
so used for about twenty years. The house at the 
middle of the town occupied by Julius M. Whipple 
was built by James Holmes in 1806, and was kept as 
a public house about twenty years. Dr. Amos Howe 
built the house at the Four corners, more generally 
known as "Mrs. Howe's tavern," in 1798, and it was 
used for public entertainment until 1872. 

The hotel at the Four corners, now kept by Jerry 
Allen, was built in 1817 by Sylvanus Wakefield, who 
sold it to David Powers. Wakefield removed from 
town about 1820. Mr. Powers continued in occu- 
pancy until about 1830, when he sold to Stephen 
Wheeler, Jr., of Troy. The house was remodeled 
and the barn enlarged by Stephen Wheeler in 
1833 ; and again the house was enlarged by 
Obed E. Adams in 1865, and a new barn was 
built by George W. Howe in 1873. The first barn 
was built on the corner west of the hotel. This 
is now the only hotel in town, and affords ample ac- 
commodations for the travelling public. Some other 
places may have been used to accommodate the pub- 
lic travel, as the owners were licensed inn-holders ; 
or they ma}'^ have been used mainly for the sale of 
liquors. The house that tbrmerly stood on the 








't^— ■'■''■'^^aiiciu^r'^^^'EEJj^ '*^"*^.'^-^-i^ 



The Old Wakekielu Tavern. 




Mks. Howe's Tavern. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



l6: 



Cheney place, now owned by St. Clair, was prob- 
ably designed and used as a tavern by Capt. Oliver 
Capron, as his son Oliver was licensed as inn-keeper 
to sell liquors in 1796. 

Nathaniel A. Bowen had a store, and was licensed 
also as taverner from 1800 to 1815. 

Joseph Cass, who lived on the Henry Ingalls place, 
was an inn-keeper previous to 1827 ; also David 
Holbrook, who owned the farm next north of the 
Peleg Taft place, had an inn-keeper's license. 

STORES AND STORE-KEEPERS. 

It is quite probable that the first store in town was 
kept by Daniel Cass, sr., in his house, which was 
large and especially arranged for store purposes. 




Jazaniah Barrett, who became his successor in 1793, 
carried on an extensive business there until he sold 
to Peregrine Wheeler, about 1803, and he removed to 
Danby, Vermont. The old house was demolished 
about 1828 to give place to the house now occupied 
by Jonas Wheeler. 

James Cook established a store quite early in the 
north part, in the house afterwards occupied by James 



1 66 HISTORY OF THE 

Buffum, and removed by Edson Starkey, Esq., to 
make room for his present residence. This store was 
well patronized until about 1800. William Cook, 
the father of James, probably, preceded him in the 
business. 

The first store in the middle of the town was 
established about 1796, by Jedediah Buftum, with his 
son William in charge, who became insane about 
1805, when the business was continued by Josiah 
Rawson until 1808, and by Jonathan Rawson, Esq., 
and Uberto Bowen until Jan. 9, 1853, when the same 
was burned and has never been rebuilt. For more 
than fifty years this store was the centre of a large 
trade, and was always well stocked with desirable 
goods. The first store was one story, and was 
enlarged by Rawson, when he built the house 
adjoining. 

The old store on the Crooker place, built by 
Lemuel Peters about 1795, was by him kept until 
1805, when Capt. Benjamin Crooker came in posses- 
sion, and continued the business in company with Job 
Bisbee for a short time. Moses Potter afterwards 
was licensed to sell liquors there. 

Nathaniel A. Bowen had a store and was a licensed 
inn-holder on the Varney Gaskill place. The old 
house was removed about 1828, and stood on the spot 
now occupied by Edwin Bolles' house. Bowen car- 
ried on business here from 1800 to 1815. 

Nathan Cass had a store at the Roscoe Weeks 
place, which he sold to James Ballou, jr., in 1803. 
Mr. Ballou carried on the business until his death in 
1808. 

The old corner store, at the Four corners, now 
occupied by Mr. Norwood, was built by Major Jonas 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 167 

Robinson of Fitzwilliam soon after the Ashuelot 
turnpike was made, about 1815. It has had various 
owners and occupants since, and for nearly seventy 
years has been kept open, and has received a liberal 
amount of patronage. It has been occupied by Job 
Bisbee, Dr. Parkhurst, N. Naromore, Enos Twitch- 
ell, Elon Holbrook, Stephen Wheeler, Brown Nourse, 
Tyler & Bassett, D. & D. Tyler, S. Cook, jr., 
Bryant & Wright, A. Piper, C. H. Lyon, and 
Charles Norwood. 

Sylvanus Wakefield, in connection with his hotel, 
built an ell for store purposes in 181 7. He remained 
in the business but two or three years, and the room 
was unused for the s^le of goods until re-opened by 
Obed E. Adams in 1865. 

Henry B. Swan and John Parkhurst, jr., opened 
a store in 1841, in the building now used for a house 
by Richard Fisher. The business was discontinued 
after a trial of four or five years. 

The Union store, at the middle of the town was 
built in 1855, and was owned by a joint stock com- 
pany. The business done here, although consider- 
able, proved in the end disastrous to the stockholders, 
caused either by mismanagement on the part of the 
directors, or else by the incompetency of the agents 
employed. It was closed in 1872. 

MILLS AND MILL-OWNERS. 

Seventeen saw-mills, on as many different sites, 
have been built in various parts of the town, pro- 
pelled by water power, and two the motive power 
of which was steam. Of the former, five have been 
demolished; and of the latter, one has been removed. 



i68 



HISTORY OF THE 



Sprague' s Mills. 

The mills known to the older inhabitants as 
Sprague's mills, and now owned by Andrew Ama- 
don, were first built by David Cass about 1765, and 
by him sold soon after to Azariah Cumstock, and by 




the latter conveyed to Obediah Sprague about 1793- 
These consisted of a saw and grist mill, and until a 
recent date were the main reliance of the people in 
the south-west part of the town for their sawing and 
grinding. The grist-mill is now dispensed with, and 
the works are used for sawing lumber, staves, etc. 

Martin's Mill. 

John Martin, sr., as early as 1764 or 1765, built 
the .mills which have been in the family name most of 
the time since, the same now owned and operated by 
his great-great-grandson, Leason Martin. Robert 
Works, an early settler, bought the mills of John 
Martin in 1784. Darling Sabin had them from 1805 
to 181 3, when they were bought by Robert Martin. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 169 

These served the town for sawing and grinding more 
than a century. The grist-mill was removed a tew 
years since to make room for other works. The 
mills are now used for manufacturing bail-buckets, 
staves, and lumber. 

Woo/eys Mill. 

Nathan Wooley built a saw-mill on the brook be- 
low the Sprague's mills very early in the settlement 
of the town. Tradition says this was the first mill 
built in town. Some signs of the old mill may still 
be seen above the bridge on the road to Whipple hill. 

John Cass' Mill. 

The saw-mill built by Deacon John Cass about 
1766 was located on the brook now called the Tilsey, 
where Holbrook's trip-hammer shop formerly stood, 
and was removed to make place for the latter. The 
water-power here has been utilized for the manufac- 
ture of pails and staves. The works since Hol- 
brook's ownership have been operated by N. G. 
Woodbury, J. Nutting, and Naromore & Sons. 

Norwood'' s Mill. 

Francis Norwood was the builder of what has gen- 
erally been known as Thornton's mills. These were 
sold to Laban Thornton about 1790, and by him run 
for a number of years ; but after his death they were 
little used, and finally went to decay. Mr. Augustus 
Arnold rebuilt the mill about 1848, and sold it to 
Joseph N. Brown in 1864. The mill is now owned 
and operated by William C. Putney. 



lyo HISTORY OF THE 

Cook's Mills. 

The saw and grist mills at North Richmond were 
built by William Cook about 1780. The same were 
repaired by Paine Aldrich in 1830. John M. Sawyer 
became proprietor in 1833. David B. Aldrich man- 
ufactured pails here in 1848. Since then the works 
have been operated by Starkey & Garnsey, Sylvester 
Aldrich, Elbridge G. Bemis, and others. The grist- 
mill was removed years ago. 

Aldrich Mill. 

Ananias Aldrich built the saw-mill in " Activity," 
which for many years was called the Aldrich mill, 
and is now owned b}^ David W. Williams. 

The Win^ Saiv-fnill. 

The first saw-mill on Tully was built by John or 
Joseph Wing quite early in the history of the town. 
James Boyce rebuilt the same about 1830, and soon 
after put in a grist-mill near by, which was run a 
short time. These became the property of Bowman 
Howe about 1845, and have recently been owned by 
Edwin N. Bowen. The mill is now gone. 

Bowen's Mill. 

Nathan and Richard Bowen built a saw-mill on the 
Tully, nearly west of their residences, about 1840. 
This was run by Nathan for the manufacture of chair 
stuff until about 1870, when the works were removed. 

Handy s Mill. 

George Handy erected a saw-mill about 1848 on 
the Tully, above the Howe mill. This mill, in con- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I7I 

junction with a steam mill, was operated by Edwin 
N. Bowen until the latter was burnt in 1881. The 
property is now owned by Mr. Young. 

F. O. Boxven's Mill. 

This saw-mill was built on the Tully by Jacob 

Whitcomb, jr., in 1848, and by him operated until 

his death in 1855, ^"^ since by the present proprietor, 

Mr. Bowen. 

Harkness' Mill. 

The mill now owned by Orrin B. Howe on Fall, 
brook, the outlet of Cass' pond, was built by Dennis 
Harkness in 1850. 

JVaromore's Saiv-mill. 

Nathaniel Naromore, sr., and Dr. Parkhurst 
built in 1824 a saw-mill on Fall brook, above the 
location of the Harkness mill. This mill, from want 
of sufHcient power, did but little business, and soon 
passed away. 

Fassctfs., now Taylor's^ Mill. 

On the site of the mill now owned by George H. 
Taylor was a saw-mill erected in the early time by 
Samuel Fassett. This was probably one of the first 
built in town. 

Hewes" Mill. 

This mill was located on Norwood's brook, above 
William C. Putney's mills, and was used in the early 
time for making hoes and scythes. 

Allen's Mill. 

Lilburn Allen, jr., erected on Boyce brook, about 
a half mile south-east of the residence of Nathaniel 



172 HISTORY OF THK 

Hill's, a saw-mill in 1845. This was soon given up 
for want of power. 

The Great Stea?ti Mill. 

About 1855 Asa Piper, together with his brother, 
Porter Piper of Leominster, erected on the Fitzwil- 
liam road, near the Four corners, a large and sub- 
stantial steam mill for the manufacture of lumber, 
pails, staves, and woodenware, including also a grist 
mill in the same. The works were run by Asa, who 
became sole proprietor for about ten years, when the 
business was discontinued, and the building was 
finally removed to West Swansey in 1882, after re- 
maining unused about seventeen years. 

New Steam Mill. 

This mill, built in 1882 by Joseph Abbot, Esq., 
Leason Martin, and Oliver J. Nutting, for the manu- 
facture of lumber, pail, and box stuff, is located 
about one mile east of the Four corners, on the farm 
recently owned by Henry Rice. 

Grist Mills. 

In addition to the grist-mills already alluded to, 
viz., Sprague's, Martin's, Cook's, Boyce's, and 
Piper's, there were at one time two other small 
mills on Tully brook, one near the Nathan Cook 
place, built by David Cobleigh, and the other 
north of the old turnpike, built by William Hills, and 
afterwards owned by John Harkness ; and also one 
on Norwood's brook at the old Hewes mill, and one 
built by Noah Aldrich. These, and one near the 
Wyman Thayer place, have long since passed away. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 1 73 

and at the present time there is no grist-mill in the 
town. 

TANNERIES. 

The town has had within its limits at least four 
tanneries. The first two evidently were quite small 
and were built during the early settlement. One of 
these was on the Jonathan Gaskill farm, now owned 
by Jesse Bolles, and the other was owned by Abner 
or William Cumstock, and was on the place formerly 
owned by Elisha Brigham, below Sprague's mills. 
About 1794, William Bassett, sr., put in a yard and 
built a currying-shop on the old road south of his 
house leading to the Sweet place. Business was 
carried on here about thirty years. Darling Sabin 
had a yard north of Martin's mills, and Amasa 
Aldrich also had one near the Nathan Aldrich place. 
Daniel Bassett and Elisha Harkness, in 1817, built 
at the Four corners, on the place now owned by Cyrel 
Amadon, one of the largest tanneries then in the 
county of Cheshire. This was operated most of the 
time by Daniel Bassett and his sons until 1852, when 
the business was finally given up, and the buildings 
were soon after removed. 



MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES. 

The town has never presented an inviting field for 
the manufacturer whose business depended for its 
success upon permanent water power. The topog- 
raphy of the town is such, its position so elevated, 
as to be the source of several small streams, which 
diverge in ditferent ways, emptying into the Ashuelot 
and Miller's rivers. These have afforded considerable 



174 HISTORY OF THE 

power for saw and grist mills, except in the summer 
season, when most of them failed to furnish a supply 
for these purposes ; hence no factories requiring 
large and continuous power could herein find suitable 
sites for their operations, but some of the lesser in- 
dustries have been carried on with considerable suc- 
cess. Of these, such as have been connected with 
working up the timber necessarily takes precedence. 

Pine Timber. 
The town originally abounded in large quantities of 
pine timber, and considerable quantities escaped the 
levelling axe of the first settlers. These were largely 
cut into boards and carted to Northfield, and from 
thence floated down the Connecticut. Price about 
$8 and $io per i,ooo feet, delivered. 

Hard Wood. 
The first attack on the hard timber was the split- 
ting and shaving of chair-posts from beech and 
maple timber. This industry commenced about sixty 
years ago. These posts were cut about three feet 
long and two inches in diameter. The price was 
about $15 per 1,000 feet, delivered in Gardner. 

Shooks. 

Red-oak timber was quite abundant formerly. 
This came into demand about fifty years ago for 
making shooks, which was a bundle of staves suffi- 
cent to make a hogshead all dressed and ready to be 
set up in the West Indies. These, before the ex- 
tension of railroads in this vicinity, were transported 
to the Connecticut, and then floated down that stream. 
The price was $12 per 1,000 for staves. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 1 75 

Chair Sti(ff. 

Large establishments for the manufacture of chairs 
created an increased demand for the material for that 
purpose. It was found profitable after a while to cut 
up hard-wood timber in the mills here by patterns for 
chairs. This business was carried on by Nathan and 
Richard Bowen, Jacob Whitcomb, jr., and others. 

Scythe Snaths. 

Large quantities of scythe snaths were formerly 
made here by the Garnseys, William and Cyrus, and 
by Robert Swan, Nathan Aldrich, Luke Harris, 
Reuben Bourn, and James BufFum. 

Wooden Ware. 

Several mills were engaged in making wooden 
ware, such as clothes-pins, pail and mop handles, 
bobbins, and various other things. 

Pails and Buckets. 

The manufacture of pails commenced about 1845. 
David B. Albrich is believed to have been the first in 
the field in this enterprise. He carried on the busi- 
ness at the mills in North Richmond, then called 
"Guinea", until about 1852, and was succeeded by 
Edson Starkey and Sanford Garnsey & Co., and 
they, in turn, by Sylvester Aldrich. 

Nathan G. Woodbury, who had bought the Enos 
Holbrook trip-hammer shop for the purpose of work- 
ing up sapling pines, erected a pail factory, which he 
successfully managed for several years, and finally 
sold the premises to John Nutting, who, with his 
sons, Oliver P. and John F., continued the business 



176 HISTORY OF THE 

there until the spring of 1882, when their factory was 
burned, and they sold to the present owners, N. 
Naromore & Sons, who now make pail stuff, hoops, 
and wooden ware. 

About 1850 Uberto Bowen and Joseph N. Taft 
erected a pail-shop on the old Crane place, above the 
road. They sold to Robert A. and Z. A. Boyce, 
sons of Robert Boyce, who continued the business a 
short time. The business has since been given up, 
and the mill is gone. 



OTHER INDUSTRIES. 

Scythes and Hoes. 

Enos Holbrook was a successful manufacturer of 
these articles, which had a ready sale in the sur- 
rounding country. He was engaged in the business 
from about 1805 to 1830. 

Spiniiuig WJieels. 

The demand for these was quite large when the 
country was first settled, as every family had to be 
provided with these indispensable articles for working 
wool and flax. Rev. Maturen Ballou and his son 
David worked at this business, as did some others. 
Old Paul Jillson and his son Silas also made them. 

Chairs. 

Old-fashioned kitchen chairs, with basket-stuff bot- 
toms, were made by Luther Cook and his son 
Nicholas. Moses Tyler, Esq., also worked at the 
business a part of the time, as did his son Moses. 
James Lovett, who resided at North Richmond 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I77 

several years, made dining-chairs of a fine pattern 
and finish, which found a ready sale for furnishing 
the "square rooms." His shop was over the clothing 
works. Oliver Perry also was a chair maker. 

Hats. 

The town was always well supplied with hatters. 
Considerable quantities of these goods were made 
here from fort}^ to fifty years ago, and sold to 
stores in the surrounding country. These were 
mostly black felt, but fur hats could always be ob- 
tained on order, and were warranted to fit. The 
principal ones engaged in this industry were Robert 
Buffum, Alfred Saben, Isaac Work, Richard Weeks, 
and Jonathan Pickering. 

Ftirniture. 

From the earliest times there were some cabinet- 
makers who supplied the home demand. Among 
these was Samuel Hunting, of Revolutionary times, 
and, later, Samuel Grifliith, who worked a while at 
Levi Wheeler's. The Cooks, Luther and Nicholas, 
also did something in this line. 

Curled Hair. 

Hon. Joseph Weeks and his son Roswell prepared 
for market considerable quantities of curled hair for 
upholstering purposes. 

Lamp-black. 

Jacob Sweet at one time made from white-birch 
bark considerable quantities of lamp-black in a small 
log-house made for the purpose in the birch woods 
west of Ills house. 



178 HISTORY OF THE 

Sheep Shearing. 

Many of the farmers employed adepts in the art of 
clipping. Chief among those thus emplo3^ed, per- 
haps, may be recorded Mordica Cass, who sheared 
ninety-nine in one day, and offered a dollar to any 
person who would furnish another and make in 
round numbers one hundred. 

Wheelwrighting. 

Deacon Amos Garnsey is named in the early 
records as a wheelwright. Later, Liberty Aldrich 
had a wheelwright shop, the same afterwards used 
by Ellery K. Aldrich. Also Luther Cook and Moses 
Tyler worked some at the business. Of late years 
Harvey Martin has been the principal one engaged 
in it. 

Paltn-leaf Hats. 

The braiding of palm-leaf hats has probably con- 
tributed more to the prosperity of the town than any 
other mechanical industry, with the exception, pos- 
sibly, of the manufacture of pine lumber. This 
business has been extensively carried on for more 
than fifty years. Nearly every family has been more 
or less engaged in it, and this has been the means of 
furnishing many a family with their chief means of 
support. The amount earned in this industry during 
this period, if the same had been saved and put on 
interest, would have been sufficient at the present 
time to more than pay tor all the real and personal 
estate in the town. 

Ha7id- Weaving. 

Large quantities of cotton-yarn were woven into 
cloth in the hand-looms before the power-loom was 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I79 

operated. Silas Jillson, Nathaniel Boorn, and others, 
brought up from Rhode Island the yarn, and put out 
the weaving about 1820. Many of the women were 
employed in this industry. It was mostly a blue-and- 
white check. 

Coopering. 

About 1830, Stephen Wheeler built a cooper's 
shop on the corner near Jerry Allen's barn, and made 
for some years large numbers of fish-barrels. These 
were made of red oak, and were transported to Bos- 
ton by Benjamin Kelton and others on enormous 
racks prepared for the purpose. 

Brick- Tards. 

The first brick-yard of which we have any account 
was owned by Grindall Thayer. Most of the brick 
used in town were from this yard. Those used in 
building the brick meeting-house were here manufac- 
tured, as also were those for the old brick school- 
house at the Four corners, and for the house of Enos 
Holbrook. 

Stephen BufTum, about 1825, made a brick-yard 
near the middle of the town, just south of the 
cemetery. The business here was soon given up. 

Wool- Carding and Cloth- Dressing Establishments. 

The first fulling-mill and cloth-dressing establish- 
ment appears to have been built by Robert Works, 
who early became the owner of Martin's mills. This 
was located above the mills near where the reservoir 
now is. Joel Abbot was probably the last that 
operated the works, about 18 13. The first mill, on 
the site of the one now owned by Danford W. 



i8o 



HISTORY OF THE 



Martin at North Richmond, was evidently built 
by William or Nicholas Cook about 1780, and 
was operated b}^ Lowell Clapp about 181 5. This 
was built and used for dressing cloth. Clapp re- 
mained until 1818, and was succeeded by Alpheus 
Capron, who died there in 1823. Capron was suc- 
ceeded by Willard Randall, and he in turn by Oliver 
Puffer and Martin Sawyer. These latter put in a 
wool-carding machine. This, however, may not 
have been the first operated in town. Puffer con- 
tinued the business until he removed from town. 
The carding machine was afterwards used by Nelson 
Thayer. Cloth-dressing was carried on to some ex- 
tent at an early date by Grindall Thayer. His mill 
was near the Wyman Thayer place. Robert Swan 
had a wool-carding machine in the mill west of the 
old Crane house. This may have been operated 
previously by Crane. 

BLACKSMITHS. 




Reuben Parker. 

From the first settlement the town was well pro- 
vided with blacksmiths, much better in fact than in 
these latter days, when it is difficult to get a horse 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. l8l 

shod in town. The first shop was evidently on the 
Thomas Wooley farm, the place now occupied by 
Andrew Amadon. Reuben Parker, who married a 
daughter of Mr. Wooley, carried on the business 
there about seven years, and afterwards continued the 
business on the hill where he settled, and the same 
was continued by his sons, Jacob and Samuel. 

Azariah Citmstock. 

On the place where Mr. Cumstock first settled, 
near the junction of the old road with the Sprague 
road, was a blacksmith shop. After his removal to 
the Obediah Sprague place he probably continued 
the business. George Harkness occupied the old 
shop about 1810. 

Francis JVorwood. 

For the accommodation of the west part, Francis 
Norwood had a shop, where he continued the busi- 
ness for twenty years or more. This was near the 
big rock, on the road to Winchester. 

Daniel Cass. 

Mr. Cass, who probably was not a blacksmith, 
evidently had a shop, and the business after his re- 
moval was carried on by Jazaniah Barrett, his suc- 
cessor, and continued there a while by Peregrine 
Wheeler. 

James Kingsley. 

James Kingsley, who was the first on the farm 
known as the Benjamin Man place, was a blacksmith. 
This place was on a travelled way before the building 
of the Ashuelot turnpike. 



l82 HISTORY OF THE 

Aaron Cumstock. 
Mr. Cumstock, who was an early settler on the 
south part of the Henry Rice place, had a shop near 
the old house spot. He remained there but a few 
years, and the business was then discontinued. 

Levi Aldrich. 
Levi Aldrich was a blacksmith, and had a shop 
on his place which was a great convenience to the 
people in the north part. He had in connection with 
the shop a trip-hammer and a small foundry. His son 
Noah afterwards carried on the business there. 

Ebenezer Cole. 
Near the town pound was formerl}- a blacksmith 
shop, built by Mr. Cole about 1766. He continued 
in the business until about 1777. Captain Bryant, 
and perhaps some others, worked there afterwards. 

Royal Ormsby. 

Royal Ormsby had a blacksmith shop near the 

brook north of Leason Martin's. It was given up 

about 1813. 

Joel Cass. 

Joel Cass, son of Deacon John Cass, had a black- 
smith shop on the road westof the old tavern. It w^as 
given up about 1800. 

C/iajidler Btyant. 
Chandler Bryant was a blacksmith, and had a shop 
on the Rufus Whipple place. 

yeraJnncel Allen. 
Mr. Allen had a shop near his house, on the north 
side of the old turnpike, and did considerable busi- 
ness there until a shop was built at the Four corners. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 183 

George Harkness. 
Geori^e Harkness first carried on the business at 
the old Azariah Cumstock shop. He removed to the 
Four corners about 1814, and there built a shop 
nearly opposite the residence of Mr. Southwick. 
From thence he removed to the old Jos. Wing 
place, and again he moved to tlie John Pickering 
place, and in each of these places he built a shop, 
but in none was the business continued after he left, 
except at the Four corners. Nathan Newell of Troy 
succeded him at the latter place, and continued there 
until about 1834; ^"<^ ^e, in turn, was succeeded by 
Abial L. Smith and Charles Roper. Willard Ran- 
dall engaged in the business in 1838, and has con- 
tinued there until the present time. He built a new 
shop some years ago a few rods west of the old loca- 
tion. 

yedediah and Esek Buffian. 

Jedediah Buflum was a blacksmith, and had a shop 
by the side of the road east of his house. His son 
Esek also carried on the business when he lived on 
the Corey place. He continued the business at the 
old shop after his return to the old homestead about 
1808. 

Henry Ballou^ Sr. 

Henry Ballou, sr., was a blacksmith, and had a 
shop when he lived on the place now owned by Mrs. 
James A. Mellen ; also, a shop on the Jonathan 
Sweet place, where he lived at the time of his 
decease. 

Williatn Hunt. 

William Hunt carried on blacksmithing in a shop 
near where Calvin Martin now lives. 



184 HISTORY OF THE 

Alvah Keycs. 
Alvah Keyes had a shop at the middle of the town. 
It stood where Julius M. Whipple's barn now is. 

Amos W. Newell. 
Amos W. Newell continued business in the Keyes 
shop, but finally built a new shop on the common 
east of the old Baptist church. 

Amos G. Bennett. 
Amos G. Bennett built a new blacksmith shop on 
the Pickering place, near the Four corners, about 
1855. This has been occupied by various parties 
since Mr. Bennett removed to Swansey. 

Harvey Martin. 
Harvey Martin has for many years done black- 
smithing in connection with his carriage work. 

CARPENTERS. 

Paul Boyce, Stephen Harris, Paul Jillson, Luther 
and Nicholas Cook, Israel and George Martin, 
Samuel and Timothy Pickering, and nearly all of 
the latter's sons, Henry Rice, jr., Benjamin David, 
Lucius and Hosea Aldrich, Orrin, Edson, and John 
Starkey, George and Henry Taylor, Nathaniel 
Naromore, and Nathaniel Naromore, jr. 

SHOEMAKERS. 

The town in the early time was quite well supplied 
with shoemakers ; some of the craft were in each 
part of the town. In the south-east part, Jonathan 
Cook did a considerable portion of the work. In the 




^ s 



=?!?^-*fci;:;5%^t^^ 



Old Baptist Meeting House. See page 1S5. 



■'t- 



^Ji^i 




Union Store (Middle of Town). Seepage 167. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 185 

north-west, John Bolles took the lead, and in the 
centre, Moses Allen, sr., was the principal work- 
man. Some of the early shoemakers went with their 
kit from house to house, and made up the year's 
stock for the family from leather bought of the tanner. 
Previous to 1800, the bottoms of boots and shoes were 
sewed on. A pair of calf-skin boots were supposed 
to last nearly a lifetime. The best in general use for 
the misses to go to meeting in was calfskin. Some 
more favored occasionally had morocco, but this was 
a luxury not shared by all. 

In later times are remembered the followincr who 
worked at the trade, viz. : George Handy, Amos 
Bennett, Aaron Tenney, Ballon Swan, Stillman 
Twitchell, Stephen Bolles, Ephraim Bennett, Carlos 
Jewell, Alonzo Ballon, John Butterfield, Edwin P. 
Tenney, and John Wheeler. 



OLD BAPTIST MEETING-HOUSE. 

The old Baptist meeting-house, which is still stand- 
ing and used as a town-house, was built about 1781, 
and was first occupied by the town for holding town- 
meetings, in August, 1782, and has been continuously 
so used since. It was erected by the old Baptist 
church, on land conveyed to them by Hezekiah Man, 
who soon after removed to Swansey, but at this time 
was living in the Bill Buffum house. The building 
is thirty by forty feet, of solid oak timber of huge 
dimensions, and would last another century if pro- 
tected from the weather. The interior arrangement 
was patterned after the style of the period, with high 
pulpit, in front of which was the deacon's seat. It 
had square box pews, and galleries on three sides, 



l86 HISTORY OF THE 

with no fireplace or other provision for warming. 
The town altered and repaired the house in 1884, ^^ 
an expense of $150. The body pews were removed 
and benches substituted instead, was plastered over- 
head, a chimney built, and a stove put in. This ex- 
penditure, with the exception of shingling once about 
1810, at a cost of $25, is nearly all the town has had 
to pay for the town-house for a century. 

Clustering around this ancient edifice are many 
historic associations. The foundations w^ere laid in 
faith and hope by men who, in addition to the labor 
of making homes in the wilderness, had but just 
passed through the fiery, trying ordeal of the Revo- 
lution. It has stood unmoved and unshaken for a 
century, and is to-day a fit monument to perpetuate 
the memory of the fathers. The house was dedi- 
cated to the worship of God, but this did not preclude 
the use of it for other proper and necessary purposes. 
The builders w^ere not narrow and bigoted, and did 
not rep-ard it a defilement for the transaction of towai 
business. No necessary, legitimate business with 
them was pollution. All necessary work was relig- 
ious work. In this they manifested a liberality in 
advance of the age. Many changes have been rung 
within the walls. The pious, devotional intonations 
from the sacred desk have alternated with the coarse 
ejaculations and clamors of contending factions. A 
phonograph that could reveal all the words herein 
spoken would make a volume incomparable in the 
literature of the world for its fullness in diversity of 
sentiment and in quaintness of style. The exterior 
is a familiar sight to all who have lived in town, and 
many of the older inhabitants remember the interior 
as it was. To all, this is a connecting link with the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



187 



first settlers, and should be preserved in remembrance 
of their many virtues. 



BURIAL PLACES. 

The town in its corporate capacity has never had a 
cemetery over wliich it has exercised exclusive juris- 
diction. The one at the middle of the town appears 
to have received some supervision of late on the part of 
the town, as is evinced by the building therein a few 
years since a town receiving tomb ; but otherwise than 




this, the town has heretofore taken no action in the mat- 
ter. In all parts of the town may be found burial-places. 
About a dozen of these places have been counted up, 
selected chiefly as a matter of convenience by those 
living in the neighborhood of each. The means of 
carriage and transportation were such that the 
early settlers availed themselves of such places as 
were suitable and near at hand for the final repose of 
their dead, and of those thus early selected quite a 
number continue to be used. The noticeable feature 



HISTORY OF THE 



of all is the comparatively few head-stones there are 
in each in proportion to the number of graves. The 
custom adopted by the Friends in the early time, of 
having no stone to mark the resting place of the de- 
parted, was copied by most of the inhabitants, and 
very few can be found bearing date prior to 1800. 
It may be seen that if only a moderate proportion of 
the graves had been marked, a very great aid would 
have been rendered the compilers of the genealogy of 
the families of the town. Many of the burial places 
appear to be uncared for. Not many living here now 
have a direct interest in the matter. Many families 
which once used these have disappeared, and none 
are left in charge of the trust. Individual action soon 
dies out and becomes extinct. The municipalit}^ 
is the only power capable of managing such matters 
through long periods of time, and to this should be 
confided the supervision and care of all places where 
the forefathers sleep. These grounds should present 
an inviting rather than a repulsive aspect, and should 
be fit places for visitation for purposes of meditation 
and spiritual improvement. 

The Cass burying-ground is as ancient as any. 
This spot was given by Daniel Cass, sr., soon after 
the settlement of the town, and has largely been used 
by his descendants and connections, together with 
some of the members of the James Ballon family, and 
some others. 

The Qj-iaker yard was donated to the monthly 
meeting of the society of Friends about 1790 b}^ Jede- 
diah Buffum. The first burial there was a daughter 
of the donor, Esther, the wife of Daniel Man, about 
1780. The remains of Gideon Man, sr., and some 
others were removed from their first place of sepul- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



189 



ture, south of the corner store, about 1809, by reason 
of the graves being within the lines of the Ashuelot 
turnpike. 

The middle-of-the-town cemetery was bought by 
Jedediah BufTum of Hezekiah Man for a burial-place 
about 1780. This has been used for more general 
interment than any other, and has a receiving-tomb, 
built by the town in 1866. The ground is dry and 
elevated, and well adapted for the purpose ; and, by 
enlargement, might be made a place more fully to 
answer the need of the town in the future. 

The burial-ground on the hill in the north part of 
the town was probably set aside for the purpose quite 
early by Capt. Abner Aldrich. The date of the 
oldest head-stone is 1787, and this may have been a 
number of years after the ground was thus used. 

The Benson yard was bought of Capt. Isaac Ben- 
son and Peleg Bowen, in 1807, b}^ Joseph Newell, 
Thomas Bowen, Noah Bisbee, and others, for the 
sum of $88. Like the other cemeteries, it has never 
been laid out in lots, but has been free to all who 
may want to occupy it. The Benson family tomb is 
in one corner of the ground, and was reserved by 
Benson in the sale. 

The Whipple-hill cemetery, located on land for- 
merly of Capt. Ebenezer Barrus, is one of the older 
places of interment. * Two hundred and ten have 
their resting-place there, of which one hundred have 
graves that are marked. 

The Whipple-family yard is nearly opposite the 
other, and is on the north side of the road. It con- 
tains forty graves, of which only thirteen are named. 

The Deacon John Cass burial-ground, on the tarm 
of Perley Amadon, contains a few graves mostly of 



190 



HISTORY OF THE 



the Cass and Kelton families. It is now seldom used. 

Capt. Amos Boorn had a place for family inter- 
ment near the north-west corner of his farm. About 
twenty are here buried. The premises are now 
owned by Calvin Martin. 

The Silas Ballou lot, a small enclosure south of 
Dennis Harkness', on the west side of the road, con- 
tains the earthly remains of Silas Ballou, the poet, 
and wife, together with those of Elijah Harkness and 
wife, and others of his family. 

The Seth Ballou lot, north of the old Seth Ballou 
place, is the last resting-place of a few of his family 
and some others. 

The Ellis family yard is on the Deacon Ellis place, 
now^ owned by Henry Bullock. This contains about 
twenty, mostl}'^ unmarked graves. 

The north-west burial-ground is on the south side 
of the road west of George H. Taylor's. In this was 
deposited the remains of members of the Scott, 
Page, and Thayer and other families of the neigh- 
borhood. 

Nathaniel Taft's family lot, located north-east of 
his house, contains a very few graves, mostly of his 
family. 

There are some other places where tw^o or three 
are buried together, of w^hich we have no definite 
knowledge, and unknown they must remain until the 
last trumpet shall blow. 



TIMES OF UNCOMMON SICKNESS AND DEATH. 

Certain years are remembered as times of uncom- 
mon mortality, times in which whole neighborhoods 
were attacked by some prevailing epidemic, caused 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



191 



largely by miasmatic influences and atmospherical 
changes. Fevers of various types were formerly 
quite prevalent, the typhus was almost yearly a visi- 
tor in some households ; its ravages were often fear- 
ful and always to be dreaded. The treatment by 
the best practitioners of that time, of fevers especially, 
was such as would now be considered inhuman and 
barbarous, by the faculty of any school of medicine ; 
that many died is no wonder — that so many lived 
after such depletion, is a wonder. 

No records now show how many were swept away 
at particular times by any prevailing distemper. 
About 1780, numerous cases of fever occurred, of 
which many died. In 1790, many children died; 
Jonathan Cook lost four children that were nearly 
grown up. Again, in 1795, a malignant disease pre- 
vailed to an alarming extent among children. This 
epidemic prevailed to a greater extent in Royalston. 
and was there more fatal in its results ; all the chil- 
dren of some quite large families died. Some neigh- 
borhoods were fatally attacked by typhus in 181 2 ; 
Whipple hill, in particular, was the scene of its rav- 
ages. Numbers then died, among whom were Darius 
Adams, who lived on the Cheney place, and Eben- 
ezer Barrus, 2d. 

The year 1865 is now spoken of as the ''year when 
so many died." About tifty took their departure dur- 
ing this year ; some died of consumption, some of 
fever, and some of old age. No epidemic prevailed, 
but typhoid dysentery was quite common, of which 
many died. They were visited, it seems, 

" By the pestilence that creepetli in tiie darkness, 
Ami bv the plague that wastetli at noonday." 



192 HISTORY OF THE 

ACCIDENTAL DEATHS. 

The percentage of deaths by accident in this town 
may fairly be regarded as exceptionally small when 
compared with some other towns of no greater popu- 
lation, in which in a single day more lives have been 
destroyed by some fatal casualty than has occurred 
herein during its entire history. The town has never 
been visited by the terrible cyclone, strewing its path 
with death and destruction, nor has any conflagration 
shrouded in its fiery embrace the members of any 
household ; nor has other elemental strife caused 
wholesale destruction of life or property. During 
the times of settlement, when the primeval forest was 
being levelled, no death is chronicled, as might be 
supposed, from the felling of trees. A few cases of 
the kind, at a latter date, are still remembered. The 
history of the town is not blotted by a single murder 
or homicide within its borders, with the exception of 
the one traditionally related of savage warfare on a 
traveller passing through town. 

The first in the list of accidental deaths of which 
we have gained any definite knowledge was the sud- 
den death of Jacob Boyce, who was kicked by a stallion 
in Royalston, by which the femoral artery was severed, 
and he bled to death immediately, in June, 1796. 

Daniel Thurber, son of Hezekiah Thurber, was 
drowned in Cass' pond while attempting to swim the 
narrows between the points north-west of the old 
Baptizing place, about 1800. 

Jacob Martin, son of Moses Martin, was killed by 
being throivn from a horse while descending the 
Swan hill, near the great rock, about 1813. 

Chester Martin, son of Ezra, was killed by falling 
on a stone in going to school about 1830. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 1 93 

Calvin, son of Calvin Bryant, was killed while 
getting over a fence in Swansey, Jan. 7, 1828. 

Willard, son of Joseph Buftum, was thrown from a 
wagon and killed about 1830. 

James Ellis, son of Deacon Martin Ellis, was 
thrown from a wagon while descending a hill in 
Templeton and killed, July 19, 1813. 

Jedediah B. Taylor, son of Elias Taylor, was 
killed while felling trees in the woods, Feb. 16, 1826. 

Hannah Cook, daughter of Luther Cook, was 
struck by lightning and instantly killed in the house 
now occupied by Calvin Cook, Sept. 25, 1829, the 
only death by lightning known in town. 

Gardner Boorn, son of Stephen Boorn, while 
blasting rocks on the new road south of Benjamin 
Kelton's for Colonel Buffum, was killed by careless 
management of a rock explosion in 1832. 

Jacob Martin, son of Wilderness Martin, was in- 
stantly killed by the kick of a horse on the side of his 
head. May 29, 1840. 

Henry Harrison Rice, son of Henry Rice, fell 
from the frame of a saw-mill building, near the old 
Crane place, and died from the injury received, June 
26, 1851. 

Wheaton C. Jillson, in felling a tree in Wheeler's 
woods, near Cass' pond, was killed by the tree re- 
bounding, Sept. 9, 1865, aged 55. 

Cyrenus Taft, son of Peleg Taft, jr., was instantly 
killed while working in the woods on Attleboro' 
mountain by the rebounding limb of a tree, Feb. 5, 
1864, aged 40. 

Paul Martin, son of Wilderness, living in Fitz- 
william at the time, died on account of a wound re- 
ceived in felling a tree in that town, in 1865. 
»3 



194 



HISTORY OF THE 



Oscar Bennett, son of Amos, was killed by being 
run over by a wagon drawn by a span of horses, 
Sept. 30, 1854, aged 24. 

Amos A. Flint, who was living on the Daniel Cass 
place, in the east part of the town, was instantly 
killed by a circular-saw in Handy & Bowen's mill, 
April 14, 1869. 

Two children of George W. Taylor, and one of 
Sumner P. Taylor, were killed by the falling of a 
cart body, Sept. i, 1856. 

A son of Joseph N. Brown was killed by a span of 
horses in Winchester, Aug. 5, 1865, aged 14. 



FIRES. 

The town has not suffered greatly by fires, com- 
paratively few indeed have occurred of any magni- 
tude. There may have been some in the early time 
of which w^e have no account, but the first in list of 
burnings appears to have been as late as the winter 
of 1816-1817, when the house of William Garnsey 
was burnt in the night time. This was the old Jon- 
athan Gaskell house, which stood near where the 
house of Jesse Bolles now is. 

The barn of Grindall Tha3'er was destroyed by fire 
about 1820. The origin of this was supposed to be 
incendiary ; Prentice ThaN^er was convicted of the 
crime, for which he suffered three years in state prison. 

The old Deacon Amos Garnsey house was burned 
1843. David Buffum, 2d, owned the premises, and 
was living in the house at the time. 

David Martin's house, which stood where Otis Mar- 
tin resides, was burned about 1844. This was a very 
good two-story house. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



195 



The old John Pickering house, owned at the time 
by Seth A. Curtis, was destroyed by fire about 1840. 

Uberto Bowen's store took fire on the night of Jan- 
uary 9, 1853, and was reduced to ashes, together 
with most of the goods therein. This was the great- 
est loss, by any one fire, that has ever occurred in town. 

A. Halsey Atherton had the misfortune, about 1875, 
to lose by the fiery element the old Atherton man- 
sion, built by Jonathan Atherton, his great-grand- 
father, quite early in the history of the town. 

The Luke Aldrich house, situated next south of old 
Nathan Aldrich's house, was burned about 1879. '^^^'^ 
origin of this was supposed to have been incendiary. 

Amos Lawrence was burned out 1878. This was 
the house where Uriah Thayer formerly lived. Most 
of his furniture and clothing was lost. 

Hiram Bryant's barn was struck by lightning and 
consumed, while he lived on the Josiah Lawrence 
place. 

The old Gideon Man barn, owned by Edmond H. 
Southwick, situated near the Four corners, was de- 
stroyed by lightning, together with. the contents, 1882. 

The whole loss on buildings for more than one 
hundred years has evidently been less than $10,000, 
while the premiums that would have been required 
to insure them in any good company at a moderate 
estimate for the time, must have amounted to more 
than $30,000, an argument in favor of strictly farm- 
ing towns insuring the buildings within their limits. 

TOWN MEETINGS. 

The town meetings in olden time were apparently of 
more account than in these latter days ; the assemblages 
were large, there were more to attend than now, and 



196 HISTORY OF THE 

perhaps politics ran higher ; but aside from the busi- 
ness to be transacted, it was a sort of gala day, a time 
for amusement and sport. The jesters, wrestlers, and 
boxers were there in force ; rings were made on the 
common, or else recourse was had to Rawson's hall 
which was often the arena for the athletes. The 
hall was alternately used for wrestling or dancing, 
as the company desired. Quite often some champion 
of the ring from other towns was present to chal- 
lenge the bully of the town. Considerable excitement 
attended the matches, which constituted an annual 
side show for many years. The gingerbread business 
was triumphant in these days ; the sale of this was a 
special feature of the day, usually one or more bread 
carts were there, and the store and stand were well 
supplied. This was the great gingerbread day, every 
one ate it with a relish, and each carried home as 
much as his bandanna would hold, for the wife and 
children. Rawson's store and most of his house was 
given up to the public ; the floors were heavily 
sprinkled with sawdust, and usually as many were 
there as at the meeting-house ; and when an impor- 
tant vote was to be taken, a messenger was quite 
often sent to summons the voters. This absenteeism 
was owing largely to the fact that in the early time 
the house was unwarmed and hence uncomfortable 
on most March meeting-days. The town meeting 
was on the whole a tumultuous assembly, and the 
moderator at times needed stentorian lungs, and a 
free use of the gavel to keep order. The presiding 
officers who could not so well leave the house for 
warmth and refreshment, were well provided with 
ample means of support through the trying ordeal 
incident to their position ; £, full mug of toddy was 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. I97 

usually placed on a projection of the pulpit before 
which they stood, and an occasional sip seemed to 
revive their lagging spirits, and as the burdens of 
the day pressed with greater urgency, toward night 
recourse was more often had by all, to the same 
means of support. 

The records of the town bear evidence of prudent 
and legal management generally ; occasionally, how- 
ever, is noticed some proceedings diverging from the 
ordinary course. In a report of the committee to 
settle with the selectmen, 1808, the following items 
of expenditure occur. " The Selectmen also gave 
Elijah Howard thirty dollars to encourage him to 
marry Hannah Alexander of the town's money." 
"The selectmen also took of town's money to settle 
Esq. Tyler's fine and cost for marrying Elijah How- 
ard and Hannah Alexander One hundred and six 
dollars." This liberality on the part of the town was 
for the purpose of getting rid of a pauper by her 
marriage with some person out of town, a transac- 
tion at the time considered a justifiable deviation from 
the iTolden rule. 



SINGING-SCHOOLS. 

About 1835, one Twitchell, from Vermont, kept 
two or three terms in succession a singing-school in 
the hall of Wheeler's tavern, which was largely at- 
tended by old and young from different parts of the 
town. This was an era worth}' of note in marking 
the development of musical talent in the tow^n, and 
was productive of much good in a social point of 
view, in making better acquainted those residing in 
different sections, who rarely met except at spelling- 



198 HISTORY OF THE 

schools in the various districts, or at other gatherings 
in the neig-hborhoods. The teacher was considered 
well qualified for the position. He pitched his tune 
from the tuning-fork. They sang " Old Hundred," 
"Hebron," " Peterboro*," and other good old tunes, 
and also practiced some anthems which were re- 
hearsed with good effect at the close of the school. 
A few years later, say about 1840, Abram Marshall, 
from Lunenburg, kept a number of terms at the Four 
corners. One kept over the old corner store is re- 
membered as having been well patronized, and on the 
whole eminently successful. Marshall, in personal 
appearance, was the reverse of his predecessor, 
Twitchell. Marshall assumed more importance, and 
had more of a commandmg way, so much so that he 
was thought by some to be exceedingly egotistical. 
This opinion was largely shared in, undoubtedly, by 
Uncle Tim (Esquire Pickering) who made this remark 
in relation to Marshall's playing on a trombone at 
one of the May trainings : " This Marshall goes 
marching about with his horh, too-tee ! too-tee ! and 
he thinks it's moosic. I tell you it is no moosic at 
all. He is one of those cat-headed and monke}'- 
witted creatures whose eyes are on the top of his 
head just like a great baboon." Passing over this 
severely sharp sarcasm on Marshall indulged in by 
Pickering, we come down to nearly the present time, 
when William Atherton of Winchester, son of the 
venerable Esquire Atherton, formerly of Richmond, 
occupied the field here for several terms, who has the 
reputation of being a systematic and successful 
teacher of singing. His last term was in the winter 
of 1883-4, ^^ *h^ hall of Jerry Allen, at the old 
Wakefield hotel. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 1 99 

HOW OLD GROUT BEAT THE TOWN, AND AFTER- 
WARDS WENT TO RAISING POPPIES. 

Nahum Grout, a well known citizen of the town 
of sixty years ago, was reputed to be a Federalist, 
perhaps the only one at the time in town. The ma- 
jority, in order to show either their disrespect for the 
man, or manifest their detestation for his political 
principles, chose him at the annual meeting, about 
1812, hog reeve, the duties of which office was to 
ring all swine found running at large in the highway, 




or else to put them into the town pound. Grout 
assumed the office with much complacency, and great 
dignity, withal, and at a proper and most favorable 
time began operations in earnest, as many of his 
political opponents soon found out, who had been ac- 
customed to turn their hogs into the public way. By 
the aid of efficient help, which he seasonably se- 
cured. Grout gathered a resectable drove as to num- 
bers, mostly belonging to such of his neighbors and 
townsmen as had been foremost in promoting him to 
the office, and lodged the animals securely, as he 
supposed, within the pound, and patiently waited the 
appointed time in expectancy of his fees ; but as luck 



200 HISTORY OF THE 

would have it, the enclosure was insufficient to hold 
this kind of cattle, and the pigs all escaped from their 
imprisonment, and most of them, led by a peculiar 
instinct, returned to their several homes during the 
succeeding night. Again, in this emergency, Grout 
was equal to the occasion ; he sued the town for dam- 
age, as by their neglect he had lost his fees, and as 
complainant, caused the town to be fined for neglect 
in not providing such enclosure as the "law directs." 
Grout recovered in his suit, as may be supposed, much 
to the disgust of such as would have gladly humili- 
ated the man by the degrading nature of the office. 
The town was mulcted in the sum of nearlj^ one thous- 
and dollars, and ever after Mr. Grout was allowed to 
remain unburdened by office intended as a stigma to 
his character and an insult to his name. Grout, 
elated somewhat, no doubt, by his success in the law, 
and considering that he had the requisite ability to 
make a fortune by introducing a new industry, hit 
upon the idea of planting his farm (now the St. Clair 
place), with poppies, for the purpose of making 
opium. His purpose was so far consummated, as to 
seed the land with these plants, which made a fair 
growth, considering that the nature of the soil and 
the method of cultivation varied somewhat from other 
parts of the world where the soporific herb is suc- 
cessfully cultivated. All the spare women in the 
neighborhood were employed in picking the poppies 
at the time of harvest. The yield however of opium, 
was disproportionate to the expense incurred, and the 
sanguine expectations which had wonderful^ braced 
him up during the season of growth, in the end faded 
out, leaving the man forlorn, without hope, and with- 
out faith in an}^ attempt to gain a living by labor, in 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 20I 

cultivating the soil that would not yield the cost in 
growing poppies. After this he seemed to have lost 
his voice, and became a travelling merchant, stocked 
with a basket of bottles, selling essence. 

In all the country here about, 

No equal had this Nahum Grout, 

To rake the ways, the hogs to ring. 

Or to the pound the " critters" bring. 

He taught the ones that showed a spite, 

That now and then a Fed. was right. 

Whate'er he lost in time or purse 

In poppy fields, is naught to us. 

To him it seemed a useless toil 

To grub a living from the soil ; 

So in the end, perhaps from choice, 

About the time he lost his voice, 

He took a more congenial trade, 

In selling essence, by him made. 



HOW SOLOMON ATHERTON STOCKED CROOK- 
ER'S FARM. 

Solomon Atherton, the first settler on the Reuben 
Rich place, became in his later years partially insane ; 
his was comparatively a mild type, — he was harmless, 
but some of his doings, to say the least, were exceed- 
ingly ludicrous. He was possessed of the idea that 
he was very wealthy, that he owned a considerable 
portion of the property in town ; he was accustomed to 
ride around on horseback calling from house to house, 
for the purpose of giving the necessary oversight 
to his very extensive domain, or else of purchasing 
such farms as might be in his way not already bought. 
With him the process of conveyance and payment 
was simple, any piece of paper with writing on it 
served for either purpose ; a full supply of this scrip 
he generally carried with him in these iourne3'ings, 



202 



HISTORY OF THE 



SO as not to run into debt. His peculiarities in this 
were well known to the citizens of the town ; his 
peculiar idiosyncrasies and notions of buying and 
selling were indulged generally for the purpose of 
satisfying him for the time being, that he might go 
on his way rejoicing. It so happened that on one of 
his migrations, he bought Capt. Crocker's farm, and 





paid for the same with the customary scrip and passed 
on to Esquire Weeks', and of him bought a flock of 
geese in like manner. With a promptness which in 
other circumstances would be highly commendable, 
he hastened with his geese to the recently purchased 
farm, and put them into the garden then in full bloom 
and foliage. Crooker, learning that Weeks' geese 
were in his garden, repaired at once to the scene of 
the mischief and there found Atherton complacently 
viewing the geese as they eagerly regaled themselves 
on such vegetables as was most grateful to their taste. 
In a commanding way, with staff' in hand, Crooker 
approached Solomon in this way : " Sar, what do you 
mean, sar, by turning these geese into my garden, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 2O3 

sar?" Solomon, apparently undisturbed by the vig- 
orous onset, replied, '' Whjs sir, have n't I the right 
to stock my farm with geese ? They will be good for 
Christmas ; besides, I need the feathers." " Feath- 
ers," replied Crooker, "feathers you shall have, sar, 
and tar, to boot, if you do n't drive these pesky geese 
from my premises instantly !" Without more ado the 
geese were got from the garden and Solomon started 
with them down the street, saying as he left, that 
"Old Crooker wasn't half a man, or he would let me 
do as I like with my own, but now I must turn 'em 
on my other place." And so off he went; but in the 
meantime Weeks had not been an indifferent specta- 
tor of the proceedings, and had enjoyed hugely the 
discomfiture of Crooker in seeing his " sass," gob- 
bled up. 

The rights of men are sometimes dim, 

Sometimes appear more clear; 
The rights of one may there begin, 
Where the others don't appear. 

WENT TO LAW. 

About 1844 commenced a legal contest, known as 
the Bowen and Jillson lawsuit, the parties to which 
were, in the first place, Orrin Rawson, administrator 
of the estate of Jonathan Rawson, plaintiff, against 
Wheaton C. Jillson, defendant, in an action charg- 
ing the defendant with forging the name of Jonathan 
Rawson to a certain receipt held by the defendant, 
Jillson. On trial of the issue in this case, the plain- 
tiff failed to make out his case, and consequently the 
defendant was discharged. The next movement was 
an action brought by Jillson, against Uberto Bowen, 
son-in-law of the said Jonathan Rawson, who was 



204 



HISTORY OF THE 



charged by the plaintiff with uttering certain words 
of a defamatory character, which implied that the 
plaintiff Jillson forged the signature to the aforesaid 
receipt. On trial of this case the jury failed to agree. 
Eminent counsel was employed on both sides, Hon. 
Franklin Pierce conducted the case for Rawson and 
Bowen, and ex-Gov. Hubbard managed the case for 
Jillson. By advice of counsel on both sides, the case 
was dropped without a second trial. The cost on 
both sides was considerable, Mr. Bowen expended 
$1800, and what were the costs to the other parties 
may never be known. The sequence of the affair 
was unfortunate, as such suits often are, in disturbing 
the peace and harmony of neighborhoods when peo- 
ple become excited partisans, for and against each of 
the parties to the contest. 



A GREAT FRACAS. 

During the winter of 1844, a temperance lecturer 
by name of Hale, from Chesterfield, held a series of 
meetings at the Brick church, for the promotion of 
the cause of temperance. His tactics were decidedly 
aggressive, he denounced in unmeasured terms all 
supporters of the liquor interest. His denunciations 
were such as to give great offence to some that heard 
him, and by reason of what they regarded as highly 
insulting in his language and demeanor, resolved to 
pelt him with rotten eggs. A favorable opportunity 
presented itself in returning from the lecture one 
evening in company with the Rev. J. L. Sanborn ; 
when near the hay scales, a shower of eggs supposed 
to be stale, fell on the victim of their spite. The 
affray caused great discussion and bitterness by par- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



205 



tisans on each side. The parties supposed to have 
been engaged in the assault were tried in the crim- 
inal court at Keene, and some were fined ; the costs 
and fines amounted to a considerable sum, which 
some of the sufi^erers (whether rightfully or wrong- 
fully, we may not know), were hardly able to pay. 



THE WAKEFIELD TAVERN MADE A TEMPERANCE 
HOUSE. 

The winter of 1848-9 will long be remembered for 
the advent of Col. H. W. W. Miller, a lecturer on 
temperance and anti-slavery, from Vermont. He 
was brother of the celebrated Col. Miller, who went 
to Greece about 1825, to aid the Greeks in their 
contest with the Turks for independence. His lec- 
tures, delivered at the Brick church, drew large num- 
bers, who either from motives of interest or curios- 
ity were induced to attend. Such was his power of 
expression, and such his ability to mingle fiction with 
facts, that his discourses possessed a pleasing charm 
for the multitude. He had great gifts in certain 
directions ; as a public speaker on miscellaneous 
subjects, he had few equals ; his vocabulary of vitu- 
peration was abundant, and his sarcasm unexcep- 
tionally cutting, yet with words of sweet persuasion 
he drew men to embrace his views and schemes, 
however visionary they might be. By his entreaties 
a number of the good citizens of the town were in- 
duced to buy the old Wakefield tavern, and convert 
the same into a temperance house, with Miller as 
proprietor. The time of the purchase was unfavor- 
able to the investors, as the Fitchburg and Cheshire 
railroads were then about being opened, and the lines 



206 HISTORY OF THE 

of travel materially changed. Miller kept the house 
about two years, and during the time no complaint 
appears to have been made that ample provision was 
not made for his guests. The house evidently was 
conducted on temperance principles during his man- 
agement, and was a credit to the town. Miller 
figured largely in certain temperance conventions 
held about this time, one at Fitzwilliam had a repre- 
sentation from Richmond with Miller at the head of 
the delegation, which carried a banner on which was 
inscribed a three-legged stool, with one leg broken. 
The device was explained by Miller to the conven- 
tion, as the representation of the foundation of the 
rum cause in Cheshire county, and the legs that sup- 
ported the same were Keene, Fitzwilliam, and Rich- 
mond, the latter of which was the broken leg. 



SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS. 
Barnum's " Greatest Show on Earth " 

Has never visited the town, it is true, but other show- 
men of some renown at the time, occasionally pitched 
their tents here. The first of these of which we have 
any account, however, was tentless, the exhibition 
having been held in widow Howe's barn, the old barn 
that stood east of the house towards Pickering's. 
This was a menagerie on a small scale, consisting of 
an elephant, a bear, some monkies, and perhaps 
some other animals. 

The next show of the kind was on a more exten- 
sive scale, about 1830, and drew a large crowd. The 
tent for the exhibition was west of the old corner 
store at the Four corners ; this was a respectable 



'JOWN OF RICHMOND. 207 

show as to variety and numbers, and the best prob- 
ably of any the town has witnessed. 

The Wonderful Potter 

Exhibited his powers as a ventriloquist and prestidigi- 
tator, at Power's tavern, about 1830. He was as- 
sisted in his performance by his son Richard ; some 
of his feats consisted of swallowing a sword, of eat- 
ing flax and drawing from his mouth the same made 
into ribbon, while the tow was blown out in a fiery 
stream, of boiling eggs in a hat, and many other 
wonderful feats. 

Blhid Dexter 

Occasionally put in an appearance with his museum 
of automaton figures. His little exhibition was pleas- 
ing, consisting of kings, queens, soldiers, and other 
notable persons, politely presenting themselves and 
retiring, always keeping time with the accompanying 
organ. 



2o8 HISTORY OF THE 



CHAPTER VI. 

WAR OF THE REBELLION ; ECCLESIASTICAL 
ORGANIZATIONS, ETC. 

Public Sentiment Regarding the War — Action Taken by the Town — Soldiers in 
Various Regiments — List of Those that Died in the Service or were Killed in Bat- 
tle — Enrollment of Militia — War Rallies — Religious Organizations — The First 
Baptist Church — The Friends' Society — The Present Baptist Church — The Uni- 
tarian Society — The Universalist Society — The Methodist Church — Attempt to 
Form an Orthodox Church — A Retrospective View — The Population and Valua- 
tion — The Electoral Votes — Political Parties — Town Officers — Financial Con- 
dition of Town. 

In the late war of the RebelHon, as in the two 
preceding wars in which the town had taken an 
active part, the records bear ample evidence of pat- 
riotic devotion to the country's welfare. The sons 
of those that fought at Bunker Hill, and at Lundy's 
Lane, aroused by the impending danger to the na- 
tion, hastened to protect and defend that union which 
was cemented by the blood of the fathers. During 
the fratricidal contest of fire and blood which began 
in 1861, the town responded to all calls of the gov- 
ernment for material support. The proportion of 
volunteers in the service to the men enrolled and lia- 
ble to military duty would bear favorable comparison 
with any town in the state. Nearly all that could 
leave home, buckled on their armor and repaired to 
the Union camp, and while in the service, no blot 
rests upon the names of any for cowardice or deser- 
tion. The record of the town is untarnished, and it 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 209 

may well be said that patriotism has not ceased to be 
an active virtue with this people, as attested by the 
action taken by the town, and the heroism displaced 
by her soldiers in this the greatest of all wars, the 
war of the Rebellion. 

In recording the part taken by the town, it is need- 
less to enlarge on the general or personal sacrifices 
made, a simple statement of facts is sufficient to show 
the desperate and sanguinary nature of the conflict. 
The incidents of this are happily not involved in the 




obscurit}- of former wars, as the living actors in the 
tragic scenes are still with us, and the records are 
more full and complete of the part they took. The 
people of the town shared in the general indignation 
and alarm which thrilled the North when the news of 
the bombardment of Fort Sumter first flashed over 
the wires ; true to the instinct of the fathers, they 
were quick to discern the danger that threatened the 
life of the nation. They instinctively rallied around 
and resolutely stood by the old flag in the time of the 
nation's greatest need ; but not in the spirit of rejoic- 
ing was the unwelcome news received, but rather of 
grief, mingled with high resolve and determination to 
rescue the country from impending disunion. Some, 
>4 



2IO HISTORY OF THE 

undoubtedly, were inclined to question the means 
that had been used for pacification, and believed that 
a broad and comprehensive statesmanship should 
have saved the country from the horrors of a civil 
war, by yielding more to the demands of the slave 
power, but of these the number was not large. Ex- 
pressions or acts which could an}^ way be construed 
as disloyal, were exceptional, whilst it must be ad- 
mitted that the bonds of support and attachment to 
the government were tested by a strain in this fratri- 
cidal war, unknown before. The first action taken 
by the town in relation to the war, was May i8, 1861, 
on an article in the warrant, "to see what action the 
town will take in regard to aid to volunteers and 
their families who enlist." Voted to " pass over the 
article." 

ACTION TAKEN BY THE TOWN. 

March 12, 1S62, the town Voted, that the selectmen be a com- 
mittee to paj out money to volunteer soldiers who may be mustered 
into the service of the United States, or the State of New Hamp- 
shire, under Act of 1861, Chap. 2480. 

Voted, to borrow money not to exceed $1,000, for the aforesaid 
purpose. 

Aug. 23, 1S62, Voted, to pay a bounty of $200 to three years' and 
nine months' men the same. 

Sept. 21, 1863, Voted, to pay state aid to the families of nine 
months' men, who have died in the service, the same as to all 
others. 

Dec. 9, 1863, 'Voted, to pay volunteers to fill the town's quota, 
(which was eleven men,) $200 each; also the same for substitutes, 
and also advance the United States bounty and take assignments 
of the same. 

Voted, not to pay the United States bounty to volunteers. 

July 6, 1864, Voted, to pay $300 to volunteers, or drafted men, or 
their substitutes, to fill the next call of the President, not to exceed 
ten in number, before the call is made by the President. 

Voted, to pay $300 to veterans who re-enlist and are counted on 
our quota. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 211 

Voted, not to pay Andrew S. B;illou the bounty of $300 tor re- 
enlisting. 

July 23, 1864, Voted, that the sum of money for each enrolled 
man to pay to be clear three years from this or any other draft, 
shall be $40. 

Voted, that each and every enrolled man, to be clear from this or 
any other draft for the term of three years, must pay the above 
$40, on or before the first of August, 1864. 

Aug. 15, 1864, Voted, to pay $100 for one year's volunteers, or 
their substitutes, $200 to two years' men, and $300 to three years' 
volunteers, or their substitutes. 

Voted, to pay $200 to each drafted man or his substitute. 

Aug. 24, 1S64, Voted, to instruct the selectmen to advance the 
state bounty to any one that will volunteer or furnish a substitute. 

Aug. 29, 1864, Voted, to pay to volunteers of this town who have 
been residents herein three months previous, in addition to what 
has already been voted, $200 for each year, which will make $500 
for one year's service, $600 for two years' service, $700 for three 
years' service for volunteers who may enlist, sufficient to fill the 
last call of the President for 500,000 men. 

Jan. 2, 1S65, Voted, to pay a bounty of $300 to those who have 
or may furnish a substitute, or $500 for volunteers for one year, 
$600 for two years', $700 for three years' men, to fill the present 
call of the President for 300,000 men. 

Voted, to pay $400 bounty to all drafted men to All the present 
call of the President for 300,000. 

Voted, to pay the state bounty to all that furnish a substitute, 
or to volunteers to fill the quota on the present call of the President 
for 300,000 men. 

SOLDIERS. 

Company. Regiment. 

Arlon S. Atherton, 2d Lieut I 3d 

Andrew S. Arnold I i6th 

Moses Allen, killed Sept. 19, 1S64 F 14th 

Frederick R. Bowen . . • A 2d 

Edwin N. Bowen, ist Lieut I 3d 

Henry R. Bowen I i6th 

Alfred R. Bowen A 2d 

William Brown 

Charles Ball F 14th 

Abner S. Barden F 14th 

Otis A. Barrus, killed at Winchester. Va., Sept. 16, 

1864 F 14th 



212 HISTORY OF THE 

Company. Regiment. 

Alden F. Ballou, died Sept. 2, 1863 I i6th 

E. Napoleon Buffum, died of disease, in Md-, Oct. 8, 

1862 F 6th 

James H. Buffum H ist 

Albert Bolles, 2d N. H. Cavalry 

George A. Barrus, died June 16, 1863 B iSth 

Henry E. Ballou, Mass B 27th 

Benjamin F. Barrus, died of wounds, July 15, 1862 . . I 3d 

Henry R. BoUes, accidentally shot, April 23, 1862 . . I 3d 

Albert E. Barrus G iSth 

Ira Marshall Barrus, Mass I 2d 

John W. Barrus, Mass I 2d 

John Bolles, Mass. Regt., died in Libby prison . . . 

Artemas B. Colburn, died Sept. 19, 1S64 F 14th 

Roland M. Combs C 14th 

Reuben H. Combs C 14th 

Jarvis Cass, died at New Orleans, June 20, 1863 ... I i6th 

Anson L. Cass F 5th 

Henry O. Curtis, H. A ' H ist 

Harvey G. Cheney, Mass D 2d 

John Dingman I 16th 

Rufus Freeman I i6th 

John H. Hitchcock, 2d Lieut I 3d 

Lorenzo Harris, jr F 14th 

Caleb Harris, Mass., died Oct. 1864 H 36th 

Almon L. Jillson, died at Battle of Laurel Hill, Va. . G 14th 
Anson R. Jillson, Mass., died at Battle of Laurel Hill, 

Va A 2d 

Silas F. Jillson, Mass., died A 25th 

Nathan M. Jillson, Mass B 27th 

Herman L. Lincoln F 6th 

Stephen W. Martin, Mass., died I 25th 

George Martin F 14th 

John A. Morse I i6th 

Ansel Macomber F 6th 

John E. Norwood F 14th 

Benj. Newell, jr., died Oct. 14, 1864 F 14th 

Daniel H. Pelkey I 3d 

Dexter Palmer, died at Concord, N. H., Aug. 1863 . . I i6th 

Nahum Putney, died at Algiers, La., June 12, 1863 . . I i6th 
John A. Paine, mustered Oct. 23, 1862, mustered out, 

Aug. 20, 1863 I i6th 

Warren S. Pickering A i8th 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 213 

Company. Regiment. 

Volney Piper, Sergt. Major E 4th 

Denzil Rice, Sergt E 3d 

Arnasa W. Terry, nth U. S. Infantrv 

John Starlcey, jr., ist Sergt., died Aug. 29, 1862 . . . . F 6th 

Walter A. Scott, killed at Winchester.Va., Sept. 29, 1864 V 14th 

Henry E. Tolman I i6lh 

Jonas I. Thompson, Corp'l C 4th 

Samuel Thompson, 2d Lieut F 6th 

L. Warren Wright, Adjt 14th 

Stephen W. Williams I i6th 

William Whipple I 16th 

Vibbert Whipple .' A 2d 

Alfred P. Whipple, Mass F 2d 

Julius M. Whipple A 2d 

S. Wright Wood E 6th 



DIED IN THE SERVICE. 

The following Richmond boys in the 14th New 
Hampshire regiment were killed or mortally wounded 
in the battle of Opequan, or Winchester, Va., Septem- 
ber 19, 1864, and memorial notices were published 
in the history of the 14th Regiment, from which the 
following are extracts : — 

Lieutenant A. B. Colburn. 

Artemas B. Colburn was born in Fitzwilliam, August i, 1838. 
His parents were John Colburn and Lydia Beard, who were married 
in 1825, and he was the youngest of six children. The mother 
still survives, aged more than eighty. Artemas received a good 
common-school and business education. He was occupied on a 
farm and in a store, until he entered the army. In August, 1862, 
he enlisted from the town of Richmond, his father's residence, in 
Company F, and entered the service as a sergeant. 

August 21, he married Lydia Mann, of Richmond, they having 
been playmates from childhood. Their married life, though brief, 
was a happy one. In May, 1864, while the regiment was in Louisi- 
ana, Sergeant Colburn was promoted to be second lieutenant of 
Company B, a well-deserved advancement. He was in many 
respects a model soldier, and everywhere was perfectly reliable. 



214 HISTORY OF THE 

He was mortally wounded during the first part of the battle, and 
survived until the next morning. His lust words were, " Give my 
love to my wife, and tell her I died in a good cause." He was 
buried on the field. 

Facts of interest connected with Lieutenant Col- 
burn's service appear in other portions of this volume. 
He died childless. His widow re-married in 1870, 
her present husband being C. C. Holton, of Hins- 
dale. The honorable service and heroic death of 
Arterrias B. Colburn pronounce his most eloquent 
eulogy. 

Corporal M. Allen. 

Moses Allen was born in Richmond in 1842, and was the son of 
Quaker parents. He received a good common-school education, 
and was a farmer and mechanic. He enlisted in Company F in 
August, 1862, entering the service as a private. He was one of the 
first privates in the company promoted to be a non-commissioned 
otlicer. He was one of those soldiers who were valuable to the 
Government, because never absent from the post of duty, always 
filling his place with intelligence and fidelit}'. He lies buried in 
the National cemetery. 

W. A. Scott. 

Walter A. Scott was born in Richmond in 1S42, and was the son 
of John Scott. He received a good common-school education, and 
was a mechanic, his home being with his parents until his enlist- 
ment in Company F in August, 1862. His brother-in-law. Captain 
David Buffum, entered the service at the same time, commanding a 
company in the 16th Regiment. Walter was one of the best pen- 
men in the 14th. He was instantly killed, dying while charging 
upon the eneiny. He was unmarried. His body lies with those of 
his comrades in the National cemetery. 

O. A. Barms. 

Otis A. Barrus was born in Richmond in 1S43. His parents were 
Alvan and Emilj' Barrus, who resided in Richmond. He resided 
with his parents until he entered the service, Aug. i, 1864, and was 
assigned to Company H. He was not married. Possessed of good 




Jl.^.jWhzfUm. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 21 5 

qualities, and having received a good education, being a fine 
mathematician, he was a joung man of promise. The circum- 
stances of his death were peculiarly sad. He was a recruit, and 
was with his regiment less than two dajs when he was killed. He 
stood well to his duty, and died as bravely as his veteran com- 
rades. He was buried in the National cemetery. 



Others who Died in the Service. 

Stephen W. Martin was born in Richmond, 1836. 
His parents were Dan vers and Olive Martin. He 
married Jennie E. Ballon, daughter of Ozial Bal- 
lon. He enlisted in Company I of the 25th Mas- 
sachusetts regiment, and died at New Berne, N. C, 
May 19, 1862. The following extract from a poem 
of thirteen stanzas, of which this is the last, composed 
by his sister Emily in memory of the sad event, is 
worthy of perusal : — 

In summer time white roses bloom. 

Where we laid down our cherished dead, 
The autumn winds sigh mournfully. 

And shake the brown leaves o'er his bed. 
'T is nothing unto other eyes ; 

To me, no spot on earth 's so fair. 
If Heaven's gates I reach at last, 

My brother's grave shall guide me there. 

Arlon S. Atherton, son of Alvan Atherton, was 
ist Lieutenant of Company 1,3d New Hampshire regi- 
ment, and was engaged in the battle at Drury's BlutT, 
Va., May 16, 1864, in which he was shot through 
the lungs and left on the field and reported killed, 
but was taken prisoner of war, and soon after 
paroled and exchanged, and rejoined his regiment. 
He is now a successful merchant in Wakefield, 
Mass., and has represented his district in the Gen- 
eral Court. 



2l6 HISTORY OF THE * 

Alden F. Ballou, son of Henry Ballou, enlisted in 
Company I, i6th New Hampshire. He died of 
disease, in Chicago, 111., while on his way home, 
Sept. 2, 1863. He was married to Mary B. Fisher, 
of Fitzwilliam, August 5, 1862. He left no children. 

Esek Napoleon BufFum enlisted in Company F, 
6th New Hampshire. He was the son of Esek Buf- 
fum, and not married. Was taken prisoner at the 
second battle of Bull Run, and paroled. He died 
of disease contracted in the service, October 8, 1862. 

George A. Barrus, son of Jeremiah Barrus, was a 
member of Company B, i8th New Hampshire regi- 
ment, and died in New York on account of wounds 
received at James Island, S. C, June 16, 1863. He 
was unmarried. 

Benjamin F. Barrus, son of Jeremiah Barrus, en- 
listed in Company I, 3d New Hampshire regiment. 
He was wounded at Secessionville, S. C, June 16, 
1862, and died of the wounds then received, Juh^ 15, 
1862. He left no family. 

Henry R. Bolles, son of Jesse Bolles, a member ol 
Company I, 3d New Hampshire regiment, was 
killed by the accidental discharge of a musket in 
the hands of Private A. A. Lewis, April 23, 1862. 
He was not married. 

John Bolles, son of Jesse Bolles, was in a Massa- 
chusetts regiment. He was taken prisoner, and 
died in Libby prison. 

Jarvis Cass, son of Daniel Cass, enlisted in Com- 
pany I, i6th New Hampshire regiment, and died of 
disease, at New Orleans, June 20, 1863. He was 
living with his second wife at the time of his enlist- 
ment, and left three young children. 

Anson R. Jillson, son of Wheaton C. Jillson, was 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 2l7 

in Company A, 2d New Hampshire regiment, en- 
gaged with his regiment in the first battle of Bull 
Run, and on July 28, 1861, was discharged for dis- 
ability. He re-enlisted, and was killed at the battle 
of Laurel Hill. Had no family. 

Silas F. Jillson, son of Wheaton C. Jillson, was 
living in Berlin, Mass., when the war commenced. 
He enlisted in Company A, 25th Massachusetts regi- 
ment. He served three 3^ears, and then re-enlisted 
in same. He died at Charlotte, N. C, of dise^e 
contracted in the service, June, 1865, just as the regi- 
ment was leaving for home. Was not married. 

Benjamin Newell, jr., enlisted in Company F., 
14th New Hampshire regiment, and was with the 
regiment in the Louisiana campaign. He was taken 
sick, and was in the hospital at Philadelphia, and 
from thence was removed to Richmond and died 
soon after his arrival, October 14, 1864. He left be- 
hind a wife and six children. 

Dexter Palmer, who lived with Barnabas Barrus, 
enlisted in Company I, i6th New Hampshire regi- 
ment. He returned with the regiment to Concord in 
August, 1863, and then died before reaching his 
home, of disease contracted in the service. He left a 
wife, who married Hiram Bryant. 

Nahum Putney, who lived on the William Hill 
farm, enlisted in Company I, i6tli New Hampshire 
regiment, and died of disease at Algiers, La., June 
12, 1863. He left a wife and seven children. 

John Starkey, jr., was sergeant of Company F, 
6th New Hampshire regiment, and was killed at the 
second battle of Bull Run, August 29, 1862. He 
left a wife and two children. 

Caleb C. Harris, son of Lorenzo Harris, who was 



2l8 HISTORY OF THE 

living in Orange, enlisted August 4, 1862, in Com- 
pany H, 36th Massachusetts regiment. He died in 
the service, October 31, 1864. 

Other Richmond men, living with their families in 
other places, are worthy of special mention for services 
rendered and sacrifices made. Among the more dis- 
tinguished of these are Captain David Buftum and 
Captain Amos Buffum, sons of Dan Buffum, both 
of whom lost their lives in the service, a more par- 
ticular mention of which may be found in the gene- 
alogy of the Buftum family. 

John Pickering, son of Timothy Pickering, Esq., 
who was living in Cascade, Iowa, in 1865, was 
drafted, and while on his way to join the army died 
of disease at Louisville, Ky. He had a wife, but no 
children. 

Edgar Parkhurst, son of John Parkhurst, jr., who 
was born in Richmond about 1840, enlisted in the 
service in Pennsylvania, and died of wounds or dis- 
ease contracted in the same. He is said to have been 
a young man of much promise, and was a law 
student at the time. 

Twenty-three, at least, of those that were counted 
on the quotas of the town, together with other natives 
of the town living elsewhere, were either killed in 
battle or died of disease contracted in the service. 



ENROLLMENT OF MILITIA, JULY, 1862. 

Francis S. Akirich, William W. Starkey, 

Samuel Lesure, Otis Martin, 

Daniel P. Thompson, Hosea B. Akirich, 

Nahum Cass, Anderson Aldrich, 

John H. Johnson, Charles W. Aldrich, 

Ahaz Cass, Lvman Starkej, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



219 



Martin Cook, 
Paul J. Bullock, 
Daniel Twitchell, 
Ansel Martin, 
Leason Martin, jr. , 
Robert Martin, 2d, 
Willard Martin, 
Nathaniel B. Fisher, 
Andrew J. Starkey, 
Alfred A. Tolman, 
John G. Dinginan, 
Henry E. Tolman, 
Melvin Smith, 
William VV. Ballou, 
Abner S. Barden, 
David H. Aldrich, 
George W. Stratton, 
Jarvis Ingalls, 
Henry R. Bowen, 
Alonzo C. Bowen, 
Wright Wood, 
Ebenezer S. Cook, 
Stephen W. Williams, 
Charles Norwood, 
Almando Ballou, 
Sumner P. Taylor, 
Lewis W. Randall, 
Stephen S. Perry, 
Daniel C. Perry, 
Asa II. Bullock, 
French Hunt, 
Asahel Bennett, 
George H. Taylor, 
Frank M. Taylor, 
Lorin L. Taylor, 
Benjamin Newell, jr., 
Rufus Freeman, 
William Garnsey, 
Walter A. Scott, 
Albert W. BoUes, 
Israel C. Hale, jr., 
Henry R. Martin, 
George G. Martin, 
James M. Bennett, 



Reuben H. Coombs, 
Parley Amadon, 
Orlan Whipple, 
Hiram P. Sprague, 
Vibbert Whipple, 
Alvan H. Atherton, 
Andrew S. Arnold, 
Lucius Carroll, 
John A. Bryant, 
Lewis G. Rich, 
Asahel Kelton,jr., 
Lucius L. Fisher, 
Dexter Palmer, 
William Nash, 
Alvan Kimpton, 
Enoch D. Sprague, 
Zerah C. Goddard, 
Luther W. Wright, 
John Parker, 
Curtis Parker, 
Simeon Kimpton, 
Asahel I. Goddard, 
Ozro T. Cass, 
Oscar F. Blanding, 
George T. Curtis, 
Henry O. Curtis, 
Jonas B. Wheeler, 
Frank G. Amadon, 
Andrew Amadon, 
Nathaniel Naromore. jr. 
George B. Naromore, 
Robert Aldrich, 
George W. Randall, 
Anthony S. Whitcomb, 
James Harkness, 
John F. Whitcomb, 
Dennis Harkness, 
John M. Ballou, 
Silas B. Boyce, 
Samuel P. French, 
Julius M. Whipple, 
Stephen M. Whipple, 
Ethan M. Allen, 
Warren A. Pickering, 



220 HISTORY OF THE 

Amos Garnsey, jr., Joseph Whipple, 

Willard J. Ballou, Ljsander Ballou, 

William Whipple, 2d, Asa W. Allen, 

Asahel G. Sprague, Jerahmeel Allen, 

Ambrose W. Swan, Silas Whipple, 

James H. Buffum, Charles Howe, 

Amos Martin, George B. Handy, 

Charles L. Johnson, Charles Newton, 

Ozial Ballou, James M. Ballou, 

Marcus D. Crooks, Franklin O. Bowen, 

Emery Cass, Samuel Bolles, 

Elisha W. Harkness, Nathaniel Hills. 
Addison Paine, 

Total, one hundred and twenty-five, not including 
some in the service. 



WAR RALLIES. 
Meetings for the purpose of promoting enlistments 
were held at various times when new calls were 
made for men to fill the depleted ranks of the armies 
of the Republic. The enrolled men of the town 
liable to military dut}^ were the persons most inter- 
ested in these rallies, as in case of deficiency of vol- 
unteers, the draft was sure to come to some who had 
no especial taste for the music. Prior to the organi- 
zation of the 14th New Hampshire regiment, an 
enthusiastic war rally was held in the Quaker grove, 
at the Four corners, in which Captain Ripley and 
several others of Winchester took an active and lead- 
ing part. Qjiite a number were induced to enlist at 
this time. And, again, at the old town -house, 
another meeting was held to drum up recruits. At 
this meeting the principal speaker appears to have 
been Benjamin Newell, jr., whose patriotic appeals 
were supplemented by his acts, as he immediately 
enlisted in that service which he recommended to 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



221 



others, thereby demonstrating to the world his 
honesty of purpose. Of no less interest was a 
meeting held at the Brick church for the purpose of 
obtaining volunteers for the i6th New Hampshire, in 
which Captain David Buffum took a leading part. 
He, too, invited the boys to engage in the country's 
defence from the highest considerations of duty and 
patriotism, the perils and honors of which service he 
was willing to share with them. His appeal was 
probably more effective in saying "Come, boys!" 
than in the injunction more frequently made at war- 
meetings of "Go, boys, your country calls you!" 
Other meetings of lesser note were held at times to 
devise ways and means to answer the repeated calls 
for more men. As a matter of necessity in nearly all 
towns, recourse was had in the last years of the war 
to the purchase of substitutes and recruits. In this 
the town followed the example set by the fathers, 
both in the war of the Revolution and in the war of 
1812. 



RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. 




The ecclesiastical history of the town presents some 
phases of special interest to the student engaged in 
examining the early religious organizations of New 



222 HISTORY OF THE 

England. In no other town, perhaps, outside of 
Rhode Island, was the Puritanic element less distin- 
guishable than in the town of Richmond ; the first 
settlers coming from a state filled with refugees from 
Massachusetts, brought with them the religious tenets 
held by the people from whence they came ; these 
were largely of the Baptist and Qj^iaker denomina- 
tions, which at the time were possessed of sufficient 
zeal and vitality to commence at once the work of 
organizing meetings for public worship, which even- 
tually grew into churches possessing considerable 
activity and strength. For seventy years after the 
town was organized, these continued to occupy the 
field exclusively, except that about 1776 the Baptist 
church was divided by the seceding of a portion of 
the members who formed a second Baptist church, 
which continued separate about fourteen years. About 
1835 ^ ^^^^ Baptist church was Ibrmed, as the old 
church at this time was nearly if not quite extinct. 
In 1837 the Universalists and Unitarians organized 
societies, and about the same time the Methodist soci- 
ety was first formed. The following pages will be 
devoted to a more particular consideration, respec- 
tively, of all the churches and societies above named, 
presenting such facts pertaining to each as have been 
gleaned from diverse sources and meager records, 
found oftentimes in distant places. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The First Baptist church was formed 1768, and was 
among the first Baptist churches organized in New 
Ifampshire. There was one at Newtown and per- 
haps one or two more in the eastern part of the state. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 223 

Elder Maturin Ballon had moved into town in 1768, 
and had labored in the field two years before he was 
ordained, which took place September 27, 1770. 
The names of the members cannot, with the means 
at hand, be definitely ascertained, as the records of 
this church are now nowhere to be found. The 
church was connected with the Warren Associa'tion 
of Rhode Island, a denomination known as "the Six- 
principle Baptists " whose theological views were 
deduced largely from the sixth chapter of Hebrews, 
first and second verses. They insisted on simplicity 
in modes of worship, and like the Friends, they re- 
lied on the operation of the Divine Spirit for direc- 
tion in their public ministrations, and religious 
services. Their ministers were not expected to be 
professionally educated ; ability to edify their hear- 
ers was considered essential, whether obtained by 
practice in exhortation or otherwise, and the only 
compensation for their services was the free and vol- 
untary ollerings of the people. No instrumental 
music was tolerated in their worship, and at first in 
some churches singing was hardly allowable. Such 
appears to have been some of the religious views and 
observances of the Baptists connected with the War- 
ren Association. The more noticeable difference 
however, between these and other Baptists, was the 
laying on of hands, but this was not considered essen- 
tial or obligatory. Meetings at first were held at 
Elder Ballou's, but sometimes at Deacon Simeon 
Thayer's, and at Elder Artemas Adrich's, until the 
building of the meeting-house, 1780.* The church 
became divided in 1776 by reason of a controversy 



' See page 185 for additional details and description of building. 



224 



HISTORY OF THE 



about ministerial taxes and the glebe lands, so called, 
one share of which, by the charter of the township, 
belonged to the first settled minister, and as Elder 
Maturin was the first, the case appears quite clear 
that he should have had without question the one 
share expressly so named in the grant ; but such was 




GROUND PLAN OF FIRST BAPTIST MEETING-HOUSE. 



the opposition of those belonging to other denomina- 
tions, in which some of his own church may have 
joined, that for the sake of peace and harmon}^ the 
good old Elder was induced substantially to quitclaim 
to the town, by naming in the deed as grantees 126 
tax payers of the town, a part of the land that had 
been assigned to him under the charter ; this lot was 
in the twelfth range, borderincj on Winchester. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 225 

The grievance complained of by people in other 
towns who were compelled to pay " minister's rates '' 
for preaching, whether they believed it or not, did not 
apply to Richmond. The Baptists, as did the Friends, 
relied wholly on voluntary contributions for their sup- 
port. But members of this old church living in other 
towns were oppressed in this regard, as the following 
extract from a letter from this church to the Warren 
Association in 1771 more fully shows: 

We request some special advice on several occasions : for we 
are young in such cases, for we meet with great opposition in our 
province, and the main point of their objection is, they say our 
settlement is not according to law, so that they threaten to pay no 
regard to our certificates given to our brethren living in other 
towns. Another particular is, it is so ordered in our charter by 
the King's grant that one whole share of land shall be given to the 
Church of England, one whole share to the Incorporated Society 
to Propagate the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and one whole share to 
the first settled minister of the gospel in said town. Our Elder 
being the first, we think it belongs to him, but being opposed by 
the inhabitants of the town of other denominations, we ask your 
advice what we had best do. Furthermore, there are a number of 
brethren in the town of Rindge, in our province, who are embodied 
in church state, with government and articles of faith agreeable to 
ours, and are under our care to assist them in administering the 
ordinances of the Gospel. These brethren have suffered much by 
the inhabitants of their town, who have taken away their cattle 
and sold them at the post for their minister's rates, and they are 
threatened still to be used in like manner; they require us to make 
request for them, what they had better do." 

In response to tliis appeal, the President of Brown 
University was requested to write to Rev. Hezekiah 
Smith, of Haverhill, "That if possible he might 
make interest with the governor or some of the great 
men to redress their grievances." Notwithstanding 
this want of sympathy from the town, the church 



15 



226 HISTORY OF THE 

increased from twenty-nine "to seventy-nine members 
in three years. 

In order to convey more clearly to the general 
reader the exceptional state of affairs in church and 
town at this time, it is necessary to revert back to 
the policy of the Puritans in the first settlement of 
New England, which was to build up a religious 
commonwealth by the union of church and state ; 
hence all matters pertaining to the church were sub- 
jects of legislation and towm action. The meeting- 
house was usually built by the tow-n. Provision for 
the minister was made at the public expense by an 
annual appropriation. Ever}' town was expected to 
have an orthodox church in unison with all the other 
churches thus founded. These were called the 
"standing order." Every person liable to taxation 
had at first to pay for the support of these. After- 
wards, the law was so modified that every one must pay 
to some church or society, leaving it optional as to 
the one he should pay ; but here in Richmond there 
was no standing order. The town, as such, appears 
never to have invested a single cent in church mat- 
ters any way. They paid for preaching or not as 
they pleased, for there was no church or society in 
tow^n demanding payment for the support of public 
worship. Nearly all were Baptists, or Qiiakers, or 
Agnostics, who did not believe in compulsory attend- 
ance on churches, or forced payment for their sup- 
port. Later on, as is well known, all laws were 
repealed requiring compulsory payment of minis- 
terial taxes. 

Having digressed somewhat from the topic under 
consideration, we will again revert to matters con- 
nected with the old Baptist church. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 227 

The members whoseceded by reason of this con- 
troversy about taxes and the minister's land, formed 
a second Baptist church, with Elder Artemas Aldrich 
as its pastor. The meetings of this branch were prob- 
ably held a part of the time at Mr. Aldrich's house, 
which probably was the one now standing on the 
Joseph Newell farm. About 1780, there was a re- 
vival, which perhaps added to the numbers of both 
churches about forty members. And again, in 
1790, occurred what was called the "Great Reforma- 
tion," inaugurated and carried on by the evangelists, 
Blaisdell and Marshall, by which nearly one hundred 
were thought to be hopefully converted, and among 
the number was Hosea Ballou, afterwards the cele- 
brated Universalist minister of Boston. At this time, 
the two churches laid aside their bickering, and 
united as one under the pastoral charge of Rev. 
Isaac Kenne}'', Elder Ballou having resigned his pas- 
torage in 1779, and Elder Aldrich his, when Elder 
Kenney was ordained the next year, 1791. The 
church now was in its most flourishing condition by 
reason of the large accession recently made to its 
ranks, but from this forward the church continued 
steadily to diminish, both in numbers and in in- 
fluence. Elder Kenney remained until about 1801, 
when he removed to Royalston, and died soon after. 
After this, Elder Levi Hodge of Warwick, and Elder 
Nathaniel Bolles, and some others, from time to time, 
supplied the pulpit until about 1830, when scarcely a 
vestige of the old church remained. The following 
list embraces all that are known to have beloncjed to 
the first Baptist church, besides the ministers and 
their families, viz. : Deacon Ephraim Hix, Deacon 
Amos Garnsey, Deacon Simeon Thayer, Deacon 



228 HISTORY OF THE 

Martin Ellis, Anthony Harris, Ebenezer Cole, James 
Kingsley, Daniel and Samuel Carpenter, Oliver 
Garnsey, Moulton Bullock, Nathaniel Cole, Jonathan 
and Nathaniel Bolles, Thomas Kelton, and Elnathan 
Jacobs. The two latter were probably from Warwick 
and Royalston. 

From an inspection of the Warren Baptist Associ- 
ation, the following items of interest have been 
gathered : The Richmond Baptist church was re- 
ceived into the association in 177 1, and was repre- 
sented yearly by Rev. Maturin Ballou from 1771 to 
1778, inclusive, with the exception of one year, 1772. 
The number of members in 1778 was seventy-nine. 
In 1780 it was represented by Rev. Maturin and 
Moulton Bullock, and reported eighty-three mem- 
bers. In 1782 Rev. Maturin, N. Cole and T. Kelton 
were representatives. In 1783 the church was not 
represented, but reported one hundred and twenty- 
two members. In 1785, represented by Oliver 
Garnsey, reported thirty-nine members, and the same 
number reported in 1789. In 1791, reported forty- 
five members added and two excluded; total, one 
hundred and four. In 1792, Elder Isaac Kenney, 
Martin Ellis, and Elnathan Jacobs, represented the 
church, and reported sixty-one members added ; total, 
one hundred and sixty-one. In 1793, reported Isaac 
Kenney as minister, with three members added, 
nineteen dismissed, three excluded, two died ; total, 
one hundred and forty. In 1794, Isaac Kenney, 
Moulton Bullock, and Nathaniel Bolles were repre- 
sentatives, and reported one hundred and forty-three 
members. After this time no mention is made of 
this church on the records of the association. The 
second Baptist church was not connected with any 




Middle of the Town (From Buftum Hill; 




Foi'R CoRNKRs (Looking North). 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 229 

association ; had forty-five members in 1780, Artemas 
Aldrich minister. The church, after the removal of 
Elder Kenney in i8or, was for some years under the 
pastoral charge of Elder Levi Hodge, whose super- 
vision extended over the churches of Royalston, Athol, 
Orange, and Northfield also. Elder Hodge died in 
1819, after which term Elder Bolles probably had 
charge so long as meetings were held. The church 
became connected, under Elder Hodge, with the 
Leyden Association of Massachusetts. 



THE SOCIETY OF P^RIENDS. 

With the advent of the first settlers of the town 
many of those who came from Rhode Island were 
members of the Society of Friends, more commonly 
called Q^iakers. These soon commenced holding 
meetings tor worship on the first day of the week at 
private houses of individuals centrally located, more 
often, perhaps, at Daniel Cass' or Jedediah Buffum's, 
whose accommodations for such gatherings appear to 
have been more ample and convenient than those 
possessed by others. Permission was granted for 
these May 27, 1766, by the Uxbridge quarterly 
meeting. These were continued until about 1790, 
when a meeting-house was built at the Four corners, 
on land given by Jedediah Buftum, who donated to 
the society about four acres of land for a site for the 
meeting-house, land for a burying place, together 
with wood and other land for the society's use. The 
house was so located as to leave a small common in 
front, which was bounded on the west by a small 
barn, or wood-shed, and a row of horse-sheds. 



230 HISTORY OF THE 

These aftbrded ample accommodations and con- 
veniences for the society, and for a time were instru- 
mental in extending its influence by presenting a 
more durable basis for its permanence and utility. 
Members of the society, prior to the building 
of the meeting-house, belonged to the Uxbridge 
" Monthly Meeting," but now having a meeting- 
house, and a goodl}^ number of attendants, they ap- 
plied for and obtained the privilege of establishing a 
monthly meeting here in 1791. Henceforward, for 
some years the society was in its most prosperous 
condition, until one after another of the main sup- 
ports of the meeting were taken away by death or 
removal to other parts. The vacancies made were 
seldom filled. The result of the plan to fill their 
depleted ranks with birthright members, who were 
supposed to be brought up in the nurture and admo- 
nition of the Lord, proved in practice a failure, even 
though strenuous exertions were made to keep the 
youth uncontaminated by the world by mixing in 
tumultuous assemblies or in the common schools, 
substituting for the latter separate schools for their 
guidance and instruction, under the supervision of 
the society. In spite of all that was done to build up 
the society and make it a power for good in the com- 
munity, it appears to have steadily decreased, both in 
numbers and in influence after about 1810, continuing 
thereafter with lessening vitality until 1857, when from 
the want of a sufficient number longer to hold meet- 
ings, the Richmond monthl}^ meeting of the society 
of Friends became extinct. No single thing operated 
so largely, probably, to the downfall of the society 
as the controversy that arose about gravestones. 
The society refused to have them erected in their 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 23I 

3'ard, considering it as a useless extravagance, and 
doing no real good to the living or the dead. Mr. 
Movvry Sabin, of Winchester, believing no doubt that 
it was his duty to mark the last resting place of his 
lather and mother, did so by erecting marble slabs, 
inexpensive and plain. The society caused these to be 
removed, but the way it was done gave much offence, 
as they were removed in the night and covered up by 
leaves in the Quaker woods. This led to a lawsuit, 
which created much bitterness of feeling throughout 
the town, although the decision of the court was in 
favor of the society. The society ever after was less 
popular with the people generally. This occurred 
about 1824. The record of the endurance of the 
society, however, was honorable ; with less than a 
dozen members who regularly attended, during the 
last years, the meetings were still kept up twice a 
week, and for years when no other meetings for pub- 
lic worship were held in the town, this devoted band 
persevered with unflagging zeal to the last, amid 
surroundings which a less positive faith must have 
succumbed to long before. It practically outlived the 
first Baptist church more than a quarter of a century, 
and afforded means by which it was possible for 
those intending to enter the conjugal state to be 
legally published within a reasonable time. It is but 
a just tribute to the memory of individual members of 
this society to say that, as examples of honesty, in- 
tegrity, and purity of life they would bear favorable 
comparison with the adherents of those belonging to 
other denominations. 

Branches or offshoots of the society sprung up in 
various towns. In Pelham, Mass., there was a pre- 
parative meeting. Meetings were held at Orange, 



232 HJSTORY OF THE 

and occasionally at Jonas Twitchell's, in west Swan- 
sey, but these continued but a brief period after the 
monthly meeting was established. The unfavorable 
conditions surrounding the germs thus planted proved 
more potent than the zeal of the projectors, or the 
aggressiveness of the doctrines, and hence these 
had to yield to the more popular forms of religious 
worship. 

The society was not specially blest with members 
gifted in the ministry. The most noted of any was 
Israel Saben, whose ministrations, covering a period 
of more than thirty years, were highly acceptable to 
the society, and were favorably received by all who 
had the privilege of listening to his pathetic appeals. 
Mary South wick, wife of Enoch South wick, who 
was' here from 1801 to 1814, was an acknowledged 
minister, and her public addresses were considered 
inspirational in the higher sense of the term. None 
others are known to have been what were called 
" recommended ministers," although others exercised 
their gifts of preaching and exhorting, often, no 
doubt, to the editication and spiritual growth of their 
hearers. Some of the more prominent names of 
those belonging to the society previous to 1800, were 
Azariah Cumstock, sr., Daniel Cass, Jedediah Buf- 
fum, Nathan Harkness, James Raymer, Jonathan 
Gaskill, Moses Allen, sr., and Moses Allen, jr., 
Paul Jillson, Jonathan Sweet, sr., Paul Handy, Paul 
Boyce, Israel Saben, Silas Taft, Nathaniel Taft, 
Abraham Randall and his sons Reuben and Levi, 
•Joseph Razee, John Martin, Joseph and John Wing, 
Abner and Jonas Twitchell, Gideon Man, John 
Bennett, William Bassett, Jazaniah Barrett, James 
Brown, and Enoch Southwick. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 233 

THE PRESENT BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The present Baptist church, which is called the 
" First Baptist Church of Richmond," but which was 
really the third of the name organized in town, — 
the first and second having united about 1790, and 
finally become extinct, — dates its organic existence 
from the 24th of March, 1835. The organization 
was effected in the hall of the tavern then kept by 
Seth A. Curtis, at the Four corners. The initiatory 
steps to the proceedings were taken through the 
advice and co-operation of the Royalston Baptist 
church, Elder Kenney, pastor. Elder Edward Hale 
was installed as pastor, and Joseph Emerson as dea- 
con. The following are the names of those who 
signed as members of the church ; Edward Hale and 
wife, Elijah Lyon and wife, J. Emerson and wife, 
Mrs. T. Ballou, wife of Esquire Ballou, Captain E. 
Sprague and wife, Mrs. P. Parker, wife of Jacob 
Parker, Mrs. Rachel Cook, wife of Simeon Cook, 
Mrs. Joanna Weeks, wife of William Weeks. 
This list was soon increased by the addition of 
other names which materially strengthened the 
church in its work. About 1840, the celebrated 
evangelist, the Rev. John Peacock, began to labor 
here, and the result was that a large number were 
added at this time. The first Baptist society, an 
organization auxiliary to the church, was formed and 
a constitution adopted, Nov. 25, 1836. This soci- 
ety made an agreement with the Unitarian societ}'^ 
for the purchase of the use of the pulpit one half the 
time, Aug. 23, 1838, which agreement was signed by 
Moses Tyler, John Parkhurst, and Nathaniel Naro- 
more, on the part of the Unitarians, and by Jacob 
Whitcomb, Enoch Sprague, and Lewis Freeman, 



234 



HISTORY OF THE 



on the part of the Baptists. The consideration 
named was $800, and the deed conveying the same, 
containing certain conditions and restrictions, was 
passed March 2, 1840. This church has had the 
following pastors, viz. : Edward Hale, from 1835 to 
May 10, 1837 ; Obed Sperry, of Troy, preached 1839 ' 
Tristram Aldrich, from 1841 to 1843 ; JohnL. Sanborn, 
1844-1847 ; John Hunt, 1844-1853 ; Gideon Stone, 
1855-1856 ; Jas W. Searle, 1858-1859 ; Horace Eaton, 
1875 > J- L- Whittemore, 1876-1879 : Geo. F. Shove, 
1882-1883 ; E. P. Merrifield, 1883-1884. Three of 
these were ordained here, viz, : J. L. Sanborn, 1844, 
John Hunt, 1849, J- ^* Searle, 1858. The church 
has experienced varied success ; during the first half of 
its existence it seemed to increase in strength and vi- 
tality, but in the latter part, owing to removals from 
town, and removals by death, the numbers have been 
materially lessened, and hence there is at present less 
financial ability to carry on the work ; but the few 
that are left seem to be possessed of a commendable 
degree of perseverance in a struggle for existence 
amidst surroundings somewhat disheartening to any 
but those possessed of the most positive faith. The 
church has had the following deacons, viz. : Joseph 
Emerson, Elijah Lyon, Jacob Whitcomb, jr., and 
Lewis Freeman. The church in 1848, took strong 
ground against slavery, and passed certain resolu- 
tions, drafted by Rev. J. L. Sanborn, condemning 
the system as sinful and iniquitous, and disapproving 
fellowship with slaveholders or their apologists. 

UNITARIAN SOCIETY. 

The Unitarian society was formed in 1837, ^ ^^'^ 
months before the building of the Brick church, and 



I. 



X 









■^ '^ 









Brick Church (Four Corners). 



^^i£i^ 








.»-<^<r'«>»»(Q&jf 






Universalist Church, (Middle of Town). See page 236. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



235 



was a • preliminary movement in furtherance of that 
design. The more prominent members in the forma- 
tion of this society were John Parkhurst, Timothy 
Pickering, Moses Tyler, Jonathan Rawson, Henr}- 
Rice, jr., Job Bisbee, John Scott, Nathaniel Naro- 
more, Amos Bennett, Ezra Allen, Stephen liufliim. 
Ballon Swan, Alvan Barrus, Luther Cass, Joseph 
Weeks. 

The foUowmg names appear on books of the treas- 
urer of the society, with sums subscribed by each, 
toward building the meeting-house : — 



John Scott (mostly 


in 


Candace Howe, . . 


. . $25 00 


brick), . . . . 


• $393 91 


Alvan Barrus, . . 


. . 25 OG 


Timothy Pickering, 


. 150 00 


Luther Cass, . . . 


. . 25 00 


Moses Tyler, . . . 


100 GO 


Nathaniel Naromoi 


e, . 100 00 


John Parkhurst, . . 


• 175 00 


Winslow Taylor, . 


. . 25 GO 


Amos Bennett, . 


50 00 


Seth A. Curtis, . 


. . 50 OG 


Samuel D. Allen, . 


• 125 00 


Orrin Grant. . . . 


. . 50 00 


Henry Rice, jr., . 


. 125 GO 


Ahaz Bassett, . . . 
Asahel Kelton, . . 


. . 25 OG 


Ezra Allen, . . . 


125 00 


. . 50 GO 


Stephen Buffum, 


. 125 00 


Joseph Weeks, . . 


. . 50 GO 


William Weeks, . 


25 00 


Nelson Rawson, . 


. . 25 GO 


Jacob Sweet, . . 


25 00 


George Taylor, . . 


. . 25 GO 


Ballon Swan, . . 


25 GO 


David Buftum, . . 


. . 50 00 


Charles Roper, . 


25 00 


Sampson Wheeler, 


. . 25 GO 


Daniel Cass, . . 


25 00 


James Ballou, . . 


. . 25 GO 


Dan. Buflfum, . . 


25 00 


Lilburn Allen, . . 


. . 25 OG 


Daniel Man, . . 


25 GO 


Amos Garnsey, 


. . 25 GO 


Jonathan Cass, . 


25 00 


Lewis Freeman, . 


• • 25 00 


Benoni Ballou, . 


25 00 


William Randall, 


. . 12 50 



The meeting-house was built on contract, bv Tim- 
othy Pickering, Esq., for $2,472.50. The bell cost 
in Boston $366.65. 

The first bell was broken, and exchanged for an- 
other. 

The total cost, with stoves, etc., was $2,957.00. 

The society had preaching b}^ Unitarian clerg3'men 



236 HISTORY OF THE 

resident in other towns, in 1838, -'39,-40 a considera- 
ble portion of the time. The Baptists bought in 1840 
the right to use the pulpit one half of the time, and 
the right to use it the other half, if not used by the 
Unitarians, for $800.00. Since the conveyance of 
this right, the Unitarians have seldom held any meet- 
ings therein. 

UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY. 

The Universalist society was formed in April, 
1837, a recent date when compared with the time 
when Universalism was first preached here by Elder 
Caleb Rich, more than fifty years before, who appears 
to have gained a large number of adherents to the 
" new doctrines," so called, which he here proclaimed. 
That so long a period should have elapsed before any 
effort was made for a house of worship seems diffi- 
cult to explain when all the facts in the case are not 
taken into the account. Man}^ of the believers were 
widely scattered, living remote from a common 
centre, with no means to spare from the provision 
necessary for the support of their families, and hence 
postponed to a more favorable time the work of pub- 
lic religious instruction. These considerations, to- 
gether with the constant emigration that has been 
going on, appear a sufficient explanation of the facts 
alleged. Any attempt to give a true insight into the 
rise of Universalism here would necessarily be in- 
complete and unsatisfactory, which should leave out 
a brief sketch, at least, of the life and labors of 
Elder Rich. He was born in Sutton, Mass., August, 
1750, of Orthodox parents, and at an early age 
joined the Baptists and soon became a read}- exhorter 
and expounder of the Scriptures and a leader in their 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 237 

At the age of twenty-one he removed to 
Warwick, on a place close by the borders of Win- 
chester and Richmond, where he lived more than 
thirty years, and labored as a public teacher in the 
vicinity during the time. His name is once men- 
tioned in the history of Warwick, published a few 
years since, as a Universalist minister, but nothing of 
his life or labors appear therein. Soon after his set- 
tlement there, he, with others, formed a Baptist 
church in the vicinity, in which he became a prom- 
inent leader.. His position induced him to search 
more diligently the Scriptures. In these inquiries he 
professed to have found new light, and consequently 
to entertain doubts on some points of the prevailing 
belief in relation to the atonement and endless pun- 
ishment, which, when brought to the notice of the 
church, he was dealt with for holding and promul- 
gating unsound views. Unwilling to retract or con- 
form to the belief of his brethren, he was finally 
dismissed from the church as a heretic, and enjoined 
" not to talk, exhort, or pray with believers." The 
injunction, however, was unavailing in repressing 
his freedom of speech. He became more bold and 
outspoken in his sentiments, preaching often in Rich- 
mond, which appears to have been his favorite field 
of labor, and about 1781 he was here ordained over 
what was called a " general society," composed of 
members from this and adjoining towns. The Rev. 
Adams Streeter, from Rhode Island, was the offici- 
ating minister, and three hundred persons are said to 
have been assembled on the occasion, but where in 
town this ordination was held is at present unknown. 
Among those who embraced his views were the Rev. 
David and Hosea Ballou, the latter of whom became 



238 HISTORY OF THE 

the great preacher and expositor of the denomina- 
tion, and whose first discourse was delivered at an 
evening meeting at Deacon Simeon Thayer's, wlio 
also had become a Universalist, being encouraged in 
the effort by the counsel and presence of Elder Rich. 
Rich, after laboring and preaching in this vicinity in 
school-houses, dwellings, and barns, or wherever he 
could get a chance, until about 1800, removed to 
New Haven, Vt., where he continued to promulgate 
his " new doctrine " until his death, which occurred 
Oct. 18, 1821, aged seventy-one years. After Rich's 
departure, occasional meetings were held in school- 
houses, and sometimes in the old Baptist church, by 
various preachers who might visit the town. In 1832 
David R. Lampson, who was called a " restora- 
tioner," preached in the old church one year, but other- 
wise no stated and regular preaching was instituted 
prior to the building of the meeting-house, which was 
built in 1837 and dedicated November 22d of that 
year. The Rev. Hosea Ballou preached the dedica- 
tion sermon. A very large gathering from this and 
the adjoining towns was present on the occasion. 
The society has had the following ministers : Rev. 
Stillman Clark, Edwin Davis, Joshua Britton, Robert 
Bartlett. 

From the records of the society it appears that the 
first meeting of the society was called at the house of 
Jonathan Rawson, Esq., April i, 1837, and was 
organized by choice of Rufus Bovven, moderator, 
and Kendall Fisher, clerk. Voted, at the same 
meeting, " to issue a subscription paper for the pur- 
pose of obtaining subscriptions to build a church." 
The result was that the subscriptions were obtained, 
and the church was built at a cost of $2,485.36. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



239 



The building committee consisted of Silas Jillson, 
Rufus Bowen, and John Stark ey. The design of 
the house was made by Orrin Starkey, who was also 
chief mechanic in building it. The following names 
appear on the books as members of the society : 
Leason, Israel, and Robert Martin, Silas and Paul 
Jillson, Henry, John, and Orrin Starkey, Joseph and 
Benjamin Newell, Luther and Nicholas Cook, Moses 
P. and Augustus Cass, Stephen Randall, Jonathan 
Rawson, Kendall Fisher, and Rufus Bowen. 

The Cheshire conference of Universalist churches 
was held in Richmond, Aug. 28, 1882, continuing 
three days, in a grove one half mile west of the 
Universalist church. These were intended to be 
memorial exercises in honor of Hosea Ballou, near 
the place where he was born. Rev. Edwin Davis 
preached a discourse reviewing the Richmond church, 
and Rev. A. A. Minor, of Boston, delivered a dis- 
course on the life and character of Hosea Ballou. 
The meeting was numerously attended by people 
from this and adjoining towns. 



METHODIST CHURCH. 

The first Methodist Episcopal church or society of 
Richmond appears to have been formed about 1840, 
but in the absence of records, the time cannot be 
detinitely determined when the organization was 
completed. It was partly under the charge or super- 
vision of the Winchester Methodist church, and had 
in 1842 attained such coherence and strength as to 
warrant the conference in sending here a resident 
minister to have charge of the society. The first that 



240 HISTORY OF THE 

came was Rev. Alexander H. Fullerton, who re- 
mained during the years 1842-43, and he was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Charles H. Eastman, who occupied 
the field in 1844-45. Kimball Hadley was here in 
1846, and Orrick Walkins in 1849. 

Rev. Ashley C. Dutton was probably engaged in 
the home missionary service here in 1867 and 1868, 
and was succeeded by Rev. Noble Fisk in 1869-70. 
This society continued for some years to increase in 
numbers and in influence, and could at one time 
reasonably count on quite a solid gathering of ad- 
herents ; but, as has been the case with other 
societies and churches, the vacancies caused by 
various causes were rarely filled by new accessions. 
The organization appears to have been dissolved 
previous to 1870. The members of this society, so 
far as is now known, were Silas Jillson and wife, 
Wheaton C. Jillson and wife, John Colburn and 
wife, Jacob Boyce and wife, Ezra Martin, jr., Daniel 
Perry, Samuel A. Whitney, James Boyce, Hannah 
Cass, Emery Cass, and some others. 

The second Methodist Episcopal church was 
formed, as appears from the records of the organi- 
zation, on the eighteenth day of June, 1870. The 
meeting for the purpose was held agreeably to a call 
made by the Rev. Charles E. Rogers, who was resi- 
dent minister at the time. The names of the follow- 
ing persons are recorded as being present : — 

The pastor, Rev. Charles E. Rogers; Charles VV. Conway, 
Orison Jillson, E. J. Donnell, George W. Newell, Volney Piper. 

Chose for Secretary. — Volney Piper. 

Chose for Board of Stczvards. — Charles W. Conway, Volney 
Piper, Orison Jillson, E. J. Donnell, George W. Newell. 

Chose for Recording Stezvard. — V^olney Piper. 

Chose Class Leader. — Volney Piper. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



241 



Chose Sunday School Committee. — Charles W. Conway, Julia 
M. Piper. 

Chose Committee on Missions. — George W. Newell, Orison Jill- 
son, Mrs. Amos Martin, Mrs. Maria Wheeler, Miss Annie Cook. 

Meetings of the church appear to have been held 
quite regularly (called the Qiiarterly Conference) 
until about 1877. Since that time no minutes of 
their doings appear on the records. 

Rev. Charles E. Rogers was succeeded in the 
pastoral charge by Rev. D. Mclndoe in 1872, and he 
in turn, in 1873, by O. T. Lovejoy. In 1874, Rev. 
E. B. F. Dearborn was the preacher in charge, and, 
lastly, Rev. Arad Taggart, who lived in Winchester, 
was the minister in 1877. The last quarterly con- 
ference appears to have been held Feb. 6, 1877, and 
the last of their doings as recorded was : — 

Bro. Geo. W. Newell, having been duly recommended by the 
society, subject to examination of discipline, was voted a Local 
Preacher's License. 

The following persons, in addition to those before 
named, appear on the records as connected with the 
society : — 

John II. Sparhawk, Stephen W. Williams, Ansel Martin, D. B. 
Aldrich, Lewis R. Cass, Eben S. Cook, George Taylor, Daniel O. 
Perry, Maroa Williams, Eli W. Reynolds, Sarah J. Graves. 



ATTEMPT TO FORM AN ORTHODOX CHURCH. 

There appears to have been some effort made at 
one time, say about 1830, for the formation of an 
Orthodox Congregational church, but the project fell 
through for want of due encouragement, as but few 
were inclined that way. 
16 



242 HISTORY OF THE 

RETROSPECTIVE VIEW. 

The people of Richmond, through all its history, 
have exhibited a freedom from the restraints imposed 
by ecclesiasticism and class distinctions worthy of 
special note when compared with most New England 
communities : and the reason for this exceptional 
condition of things may be clearly outlined by revert- 
ing to the antecedents and surroundings which had 
a direct influence in moulding and fashioning these 
characteristics of their social and religious life. The 
town was largely settled by people from Rhode 
Island, a state whose first white inhabitants were 
composed to a considerable extent of dissenters from 
and disbelievers in the established churches of the 
neighboring states, and upon whom a species of 
ostracism and persecution had been brought to bear 
that had rendered a migration to a place of greater 
toleration highly desirable. Chieftest among these 
were the Baptists and Qiiakers, who were in unison 
on one point at least, and that was that every human 
being had the right of private judgment in all mat- 
ters of religious concern, and were not accountable to 
anybody for the opinions which they might form in 
that regard ; and that no body of men, or ecclesiasti- 
cal authority had a right to make and enforce rules 
and regulations for others to observe in matters of 
religious belief and worship without their assent to 
the same. These broad principles of toleration and 
individual rights, inculcated by the founders of the 
state, became the inheritance of the Rhode Islander, 
and hence, in his migrations to new fields of labor or 
settlement, these were his houshold gods, by which 
he was largely governed in his political and religious 
movements. Such then were the principles of the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 243 

men who became the first settlers of the town, and 
such largely have been the convictions of their suc- 
cessors. Whether the outgrowth of this individualism 
has resulted in a higher development, or been produc- 
tive of greater enjoyment, may be a question for the 
theologian or metaphysician to solve. That church 
organizations have been feeble and inefficient is ap- 
parent. The early churches, both Baptist and 
Quaker, ceased to grow after the first generation, 
and neither survived the first century of their ex- 
istence. Other church organizations, however, have 
sprung up, taking the place of the older, but these at 
present manifest signs of great weakness and decay, 
owing no doubt in part to the death of the aged and 
the removal of the 3^oung, together with the sparse- 
ness of the population in homes widely separated. 
Whatever the causes of the decline in church at- 
tendance may have been we need not pause here to 
enquire, but rather examine the results and deter- 
mine, if possible, the evil and good which may have , 
resulted therefrom. It may be affirmed, with full as- 
surance of its correctness, that this people have been 
as free from the grosser forms of vice as other com- 
munities have been. No murders or manslaughters 
have been committed ; no robberies, highway or 
otherwise, have been perpetrated worthy of mention ; 
nor has the torcli of the incendiary been applied at 
midnight to the domiciles of the people. Life and 
property have been comparatively safe and secure, 
and it may be truthfully said that much less cheating 
and fraud, under the garb of piety and religion, have 
marked the progress of this people than can be 
affirmed of some otlier communities with more pre- 
tentious surroundings ; but these conditions, negative 



244 HISTORY OF THE 

rather than positive, have been supplemented by a 
generous hospitality and the kindlier conventionalities 
of life and of good neighborhood ; but these, bearing a 
favorable aspect, may not reasonably be adduced in 
favor of any system which ignores the necessity of 
stated, regular, moral instruction. That the social, 
moral, and intellectual condition of a community may 
be elevated by the public inculcation of moral and re- 
ligious truths there can be no reasonable doubt, and 
that a wise foresight would make ample provision for 
the development and growth of the higher elements 
of our nature needs no demonstration. 

The freedom from social caste observable in the 
history of the town has rested largel}^ on the general 
equality in material things among the people. None 
have been very rich, not many very poor, — as nearly 
equal in all things as a community so situated well 
could be. This equality unquestionably would have 
tendency to develop the more sterling qud.lities of an 
independent, self-reliant character, and cause a com- 
mendable degree of freedom from that obsequiousness 
and servility founded in caste. 

THE POPULATION AND VALUATION.* 

Population of the Town taken first in 1773 and again in 1775, 
1786i and in 1790, and Decennially sittcc the latter date, being 
the time wheti the First United States Census zvas taken, and 
also the Valuation of the Town, including Polls taken Decen- 
nially si?ice ISIO. 

Inhabitants. Valuation. 

Census of 1773 745 

" 1775 860 

" 1786 1.250 

1790 i'38o 

1800 1,350 

' For present valuation, see page 253. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



245 



Census of • 1810 

1820 

. . . • 1830 

" 1840 

1850 

i860 

1870 

" 1880 



Inhabitants 
1,290 

1. 391 
1. 301 
1,165 
1,274 
1,015 

868 
669 



Valuation. 
$220,502 

225,748 
225,466 
350,966 
348,600 
332,64s 
250,958 
254,758 



THE ELECTORAL VOTES. 

The Vote for Electors for Presideiif and Vicc-Presidcjit of the 
United States, beginjiiug 1788, 
Votes 
32 



1878—6 electors . . . 

1792 — 6 electors . . . 

1796 — 6 electors . . . 
iSoo — None recorded. 

o ( Democratic electors 

^\ Federal " 

o o ' Democratic " 
'^\ Federal 

I8I2^S^'^°^'"^^''^ !! 

(.Federal " 

,0 y f Democratic " 

( Federal " 

1820— One set " 



1S24- 
1828 



-None recorded. 
Democratic electors 
\Nat'lRepub. " 
Q ( Democratic " 
■^- \ Nat'l Repub. " 
Q^ I Democratic " 
^^■^^ \ Nat'l Repub. " 
o f Democratic " 
^840 1 Whig 

Democratic " 



1844 



Whig 
Liberty 



JO 

25 

146 

3 
167 

7 

214 

12 

182 

II 

64 

134 

87 

130 

no 

114 

19 

155 

119 

122 

36 

36 



r Democratic elector 
1848] Whig 

( Free Soil 

{Democratic 
Whig 
Free Soil 
n.f I Democratic 
•^ ( Republican 
' C Democratic 
iS6o^ Republican 

( Bell & Everett 

o^ I Democratic 

^\ Republican 

o<'o ' Democratic 

t Republican 

o f Democratic 

' \ Republican 

q - ! Democratic 

' ( Republican 

{Democratic 
Republican 
Greenback 



Votes. 
122 
78 

32 

129 

42 

35 
132 
123 
124 

62 

54 
128 

87 
no 

87 
86 

79 
96 

108 

72 
89 

25 



POLITICAL PARTIES. 

In reviewing the action of the pohtical parties in 
their choice of electors, it will he seen that the Demo- 
crats have been for the most of the time in the 
ascendency. In the first and second elections of 
president, there was only one set of electors, and by 



246 HISTORY OF THE 

these the entire vote was cast for Washington ; and in 
the election of John Adams there appears to have 
been no opposition. In the election in fSoo, when 
Jefferson was tirst elected, there is no record of the 
votes cast, but in his second election, in 1804, there 
appears a very feeble opposition of only three votes 
for the Federal ticket. This is the first appearance 
of division into parties. The Federal vote again ap- 
pears in the first and second elections of Madison, in 
1808 and in 181 2, and also in the first election of 
Monroe in 1816 ; but this opposition vote at no time 
exceeded twelve, and became totally extinct in the 
second election of Monroe in 1820, when there was 
but one set of electors. The record of the vote of 
1824 is missing. This was for the period embracing 
the administration of John Q^ Adams, when the 
people were really divided into two parties, the 
Democratic and the National Republican. The 
former of these had fair majorities in the election of 
1828 and 1832, when Jackson was elected, and still 
larger when Van Buren was elected, in 1836. The 
National Republicans assumed the name of Whigs in 
1840, when they threw one hundred and nineteen 
votes for electors for Harrison, the largest vote they 
ever cast. In 1844 a new party arose called the 
" Liberty," which polled thirt3^-six votes, the same as 
the Whig vote, but still a large majority of the votes 
were for electors for J. K. Polk. The Whig vote 
greatly increased, and the Liberty, or Free Soil, 
diminished in 1848, when General Taylor was 
elected, the Democrats still retaining a small ma- 
jority. In the election of General Pierce, in 1852, 
the Democrats carried the town by a small increase 
over the majority which they cast in 1848. In 1856, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



247 



the Republican party took the phice of the Whig and 
Free Soil, but still a majority of votes was given lor 
Mr. Buchanan. There were three sets of electors in 
i860, when Lincoln was chosen ; the third was for 
Bell and Everett, the compromise candidates. The 
Democrats retained their ascendency in the second 
election of Lincoln in 1864, and also in the first and 
second elections of Grant in 1868 and 1872, but in the 
election in 1876, which finally resulted in placing 
Hayes in the presidential chair, the Democrats, for 
the first time in the history of the town, were in the 
minority, and so continued in the election of 1880, 
which resulted in the choice of General Garfield. 
The Greenback party appear for the first time at this 
latter election with twenty-five votes for presidential 
electors. 

TOWN OFFICERS, ETC. 



List of Selectmrii from ^^6^ to 1S82, -Mith the Tears each Served, 
incltidini^ the F'irst Date. 



John Cass, 1765. 
Daniel Cass, 1765, 1773. 
John Martin, 1765, 1776. 
David Thurber, 1766, 1767. 
David Barney, 1766, 1767, 1768, 

1783- 
Edward Ainsworth, 1766 to 1771. 
Abraham Randall, 1766, 1769, 

1771. 
John Scott, 1766. 
'Jonathan Gaskill, 176S, 1769, 

1773- 
Jedediaii Biiffiim, 1770, 1771, 

1786, 1787, 178S, 1794. 
Anthony Harris, 1770, 1772. 
Jonathan Atherton, 1771, 1773- 
Jonathan Thurber, 177-. 
Oliver Capron, 1772, 1773. 



Moulton Bullock, 1773. 

Silas Gaskill, 1773, 1782. 
Timothy Thompson, 1773- 
Joseph Cass, 1773, 1783. 
John Dandly, 1773, 1776. 

Israel Whipple, 1774, i779- 
Joseph Newell, 1774, 1S09. 

Ezra Allen, 1774. 

William CJodtlard, 1775. 

Enocli White, 1775. 

Daniel Read, 1775, 1776, 1777, 
1784. 

Henry Ingalls, 1777. 

Amos Garnsey, 1777, 1778. 

Nicholas Cook, 177S, 1781. 
James Kingsley, 177S, 17S5, 1786, 
17S7, 17S9, to 1794. 

Edmond Ingalls, 1779. 



248 



HISTORY OF THE 



Moses Tyler, 1779, 1781, 17S5, 
1788, 1789, 1790, 1 791, 1792, 

1793. 1795. 1796, 1797' 1798. 

1799, i8cx), iSoi, 1802, 1803, 
1806, 1807, iSoS. 

Wheeler Cole, 1780. 

Paul Aldrich, 1780. 

Samuel Curtis, 1780, 1804, 1805, 

1806, 1807, 180S. 
Hezekiah Mann, 1781. 
Noah Curtis, 1782. 
Rufus Whipple, 1782, 1783, 1785, 

1786, 1787, 1794- 
Jonas Twitchell, 1784, 
Isaac Benson, 1784. 
Nathaniel Aldrich, 1788, 1789, 

1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 

1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 

1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 
1S05, 1809, 1810, iSii, 1S12. 

Samuel Gaskill, 1795 to 1798. 

David Ballou, 1798. 

Nathan Ballou, 1799 to 1803. 

James Cook, 1803. 

Esek Buftum, 1804 to 1809. 

Ebenezer Blanding, 1809. 

Joseph Newell, jr., 1810, iSii, 

1812, 1815, 1830, 1832. 
Jonathan Atherton, jr., iSio, 

1811, 1812, 1819, 1821, 1822, 

1823. 
Ezra Martin, 1813, 1814, 1815, 

1816, 1817, 181S, 1820. 
Benjamin Newell, 1813, 1814, 

1817, 1818, 1822, 1823, 1S25, 
1826, 1828, 1829, 1833, 1835. 

Jerathmeel Allen, 1813. 

Alfred Saben, 1814, 1815, 1816, 

1819, 1820. 
Saben Atherton, 1816, 1S17, 1820. 
Russell Whipple, 181S, 1S19, 

1821, 1822, 1S34, 1S45. 
William Randall, 1S21. 



Jonathan Rawson, 1823, 1825, 

1826, 1827. 

John Parkhurst, 1824. 

Silas Jillson, 1824, 1825, 1S26, 

1827, 1828, 1830, 1832. 
Moses Tyler, jr., 1827 to 1830. 
Daniel Bassett, 1829, 1831, 1835, 

1836. 
Enoch Whipple, 1830, 1832. 
Silas Whipple, 1S31. 
Nathaniel Boorn, 1831. 
Brown Nourse, 1833, 1834. 
David Buffum, 1833, ^834, 1837, 

183S. 
Nicholas Cook, 1834. 
Seth A. Curtis, 1835. 
Kendall Fisher, 1836, 1837, 1S38, 

1839, 1840, 1841, 1843, 1844, 

1846, 1S47, 1851, 1857, iS6o, 

1S61, 1863, 1863. 
Alvin Barrus, 1S36, 1837, 183S, 

1842. 
Stephen Randall, 1839, 1S40, 

1S41, 1843, 1844. 
Samuel Sprague, 1839 to 1842. 
D. B. Aldrich, 1842. 
Jarvis Weeks, 1S42. 
Asahel Kelton, 1843, 1S41, 1S45, 

1846, 1847, 1852, 1853, 1856, 

1858, 1859. 
Levi Wheeler, 1845. 
William Wright, 1846, 1S47, 

1849, i854' iS55' 187S, 18S3, 

i88^. 
Willard Randall, 1848, 1850, 1S54. 
Alvan Atherton, 1S48 to 1852. 
Augustus Cass, 1848. 
Nathan Bowen, 1S49. 
William Bassett, 1850, 1851. 
Jesse Bolles, 1852, 1853, 1856, 

1S57, i860, 1862, 186S, 1869, 

1S70, 1S71. 
Uberto Bowen, 1852, 1853. 







JNO. ATHERTON ESQ. 



MODERATOR 






MOSES TYLER. 

SELLCTMAN, 



JARVIS WEEKS ESQ. 

REP.&TOWN CLtHX,. 



SAMUEL SPRAGUE. 






DANIEL BASSETT. 

SELECTMAN. 



HENRY RICE, 



SELECTMAr 




JESSE BUWLES. 

SEUECTMAN 



NATHAN BOWEN. 



AtLEC.I MAr 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



249 



Edwin Cass, 1854. 

J. W. Herrick, 1855. 

Silas Whipple, 1855. 

Ahaz Cass, 1856, 1857. 

Henry Rice, 1858, 1859. 

Hosea B. Aldrich, 185S, 1S60, 

1861, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867. 
Almando Ballou, 1859. 
Stephen W. Williams, 1861. 
Asa H. Bullock, 1862 to 1867. 
Cyrenus Taft, 1863. 
Zimri Bowen, 1864, 1865. 
Elbridge G. Bemis, 1866, 1867, 

1868, 1869, 1S72. 



Edson Starkey, 1867, 1868, 1SC/9, 
1870, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 
1877, 1879, 1880. 

Andrew Willoby, 1870 to 1873. 

Hiram P. Sprague, 1871, 1S75, 
1S76, 1877. 

George H. Taylor, 1872. 

Amos G. Bennett, 1873, 1874. 

Nathaniel B. Fisher, 1873. 

Joseph B. Abbott, 1874 to 1878. 

George W. Randall, 187S. 

Nathan E. Tuttle, 1878. 

Charles H. Lyon, 1879 to 18S5. 

Almon Twitchell, 1879 to 1885. 

Edwin N. Bowen, 1881, 1882. 



Table Shoiving Where the Ajinual Town Meetings have been Held 

from 1765 to 1882. 
From 1765 to 176S — At Deacon John Cass', Innholder. 

" 1769 '* Timothy Thompson's, Innholder. 

" 1770 " Timothy Thompson's, Innholder. 

" 1771 " Timothy Thompson's, Innholder. 

" 1772 " house of Jedediah Buffum, Innholder. 

" 1773 " house of Jedediah BufTum, Innholder. 

" 1774 " house of Constant Barney, Innholder. 

" 1775 " Deacon John Cass', Innholder. 

" 1776 " house of Silas Gaskill, Innholder. 

" 1777 " house of Abner Aldrich, jr., Innholder. 

" 1778 " house of Abner Aldrich, jr., Innholder. 

" 1779 " house of Abner Aldrich, jr., Innholder. 

" 1780 " house of Abner Aldrich, jr., Innholder. 

" 1781 " house of Ebenezer Miller. 

" 1782 " house of Hezekiah Mann. 

Aug. 27, 1782 " Baptist meeting-house. 

From 1782 to 1883 the annual and all other town 
meetings were held at the Baptist meeting-house, ex- 
cept that, in 1784, the annual meeting was adjourned 
to David Bullock's shop, but for what purpose does 
not appear ; and that a meeting, called December 9, 
at the Baptist meeting-house, was adjourned to Joseph 



250 



HISTORY OF THE 



Barney's dwelling-house, which stood a few rods 
north-east of the meeting-house. Previous to 17S2, 
special meetings were sometimes held at barns, viz. : 
at Constant Barney's barn, at Jedediah Buffum's barn, 
and at Hezekiah Mann's barn, and once, in 1778, an 
adjournment was made out of doors, and the busi- 
ness was transacted in the open air. 



List of Moderators at the Annual To-vn Alcetiugs from 1865 to 
1885, -ivith years each served, including the first date. 



Deacon John Cass, 1765. 
Abraham Randall, 1766, 1770, 

1771. 1773- 
Edward Ainsworth, 1767, 1769. 
Constant Barney, 1768. 
Jonathan Thurber, 1772. 
Moulton Bullock, 1774. 
Oliver Capron, 1775, 177S. 
Daniel Read, 1776, 1777. 
Amos Garnsey, 1779- 
Israel Whipple, 1780. 
Rufus Whipple, 1781 to 1790, 

1793 to 1796, 1799, 1800, 1803 to 

1808, 1809 to 1817. 
Moses Tyler, 1790 to 1793, 1796 

to 1799, 1 801, 1802. 
Daniel C. Bryant, 1808. 
Jonathan Atherton, 1817 to 1822, 

1823 to 1830, 1831, 1835. 



Joseph Weeks, 1830, 1832. 
Timothy Pickering, 1833. 
Joseph Newell, 1834. 
Rufus Bowen, 1836 to 1839. 
Amos Bennett, 1839, 1840, 1844. 
Willard Randall, 1842, 1843, 

1845, 1848 to 1852, 1853, 1854, 

1859. 
Kendall Fisher, 1846, 1847, i855' 

1S57, 1858, i860 to 1866. 
Asahel Kelton, 1852, 1856. 
Elbridge G. Bemis, 1866 to 1874. 
Ahaz Cass, 1874. 
Asa H. Bullock, 1875. 
Joseph B. Abbott, 1876, 1877. 
Jonathan C.Bryant, 1878 to 1881. 
Nahum Cass, 1881 to 1885. 



List of Representatives to the General Court from 1776 to 1883, 
■with years each served. 



Oliver Capron, 1776, 1783. 
Daniel Read, 1777. 
David Barney, 1778. 
Noah Curtis, 1779, 1782. 
Jonathan Gaskill, 1787, 
1790. 



1789, 



Moses Tyler, 1793, 1796 to 1802. 
Rufus Whipple, 1794, 1795- 
James Cook, 1802 to 1807. 
Joseph Weeks, 1807 to 1810, 181 1 

to 1814, 1821 to 1824, 1826, 

1830, 1832 to 1835. 



d) ]WT^Yd)]'W(^] 



]i\ 




♦**hS 









^ y» 



WILLARD RANDALL. 



NICHOLAS COOK. 





KENDALL FlSHtR. 



£DSON STAR KEY. 



^9^^ 

A 





STEPHEN RANDALL. 



D.e.ALDRlCH. 



w 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



251 



Nathaniel Aldrich, iSio. 
Jonathan Atherton, 1814 to 1817, 

1819. 
Benjamin Newell, 1817, 1S18, 

1820. 
Joseph Newell, 1824, 1825. 
Jonathan Rawson, 1827 to 1S30. 
Russell Whipple, 1831. 
Nahum Aldrich, 1837 ^'^ 1840. 
Jarvis Weeks, 1840, 1841. 
Nicholas Cook, 1842, 1845, 1846. 
Kendall Fisher, 1843, 1844. 
Stephen Randall, 1847, 1848. 
William Wright, 1849, 1850- 
Willard Randall, 1851, 1852. 
D. B. Aldrich, 1853, 1854. 



Samuel P. French, 1855. 
John Starkey, 1856, 1857. 
Abner Twitchell, 1858, i860. 
Asahel Kelton, 1859. 
Hosea B. Aldrich, 1861, 1S63. 
Asa H. Bullock, 1864. 
N. G. Woodbury, 1865, 1866. 
Edson Starkey, 1867, 186S. 
Asa H. Bullock, 1869, 1870, 
Elbridge G. Bemis, 1871, 1S72. 
Andrew G. Willoby, 1873. 
Almon Twitchell, 1874. 
Edwin N. Bowen, 1S75, 1876. 
Joseph B. Abbott, 1877. 
Hiram P. Sprague, 1878. 
John E. Norwood, 1S83. 



Li'si of To7vn Clerks from 1765 to 1882, xvith the years each 
served, including the first date. 



Daniel Cass, 1765. 

Henry Ingalls, 1766 to 1792. 

Samuel Gaskill, 1792 to 179S, 

1799 to 1802. 
David Ballou, 1798. 
Joseph Weeks, 1802 to 1S22, 1823, 

1827. 
Jonathan Rawson, 1S24 to 1827, 

1831. 
Benjamin Newell, 1828, 1829. 
Ono T. Cass, 1830. 
Jarvis Weeks, 1832 to 1836, 1S37 

to 1844, 18451 1853- 1854, i8sC), 

1857- 
Stephen Wheeler, jr., 1836. 



Amos W. Newell, 1S44. 1S46, 

1847, 1855. 
Henry B. Swan, 1848, 1849. 
William Bassett, 1850 to 1S53. 
N, G. Woodbury, 1858, i860 to 

1865. 
D. R. Spaulding, 1859. 
Jarvis Ingalls, 1865 to 1871, 1880 

to 1884. 
Amos G. Bennett, 1871 to 1S75. 
Edward F. P. Dearborn, 1875 

(one month). 
George W. Newell, 1S76 to 1880. 
Almon Twitchell, 1884. 



List of To-vn Treasurers from 1765 to 1882, with the years 
each served, including first date, 

John Cass, 1765, 1766, 1772. Luke Cass, 1803 to 1813. 

Francis Norwood, 1767 to 177 i. Esek Bufl'um, 1813 to 1822. 

Timothy Thompson, 1771. Jonathan Rawson, 1823 to 1826, 
Jedediah Buffum, 1773 to 1803. 1837, 1838. 



252 



HISTORY OF THE 



Joseph Weeks, 1826, 18^7. 
Daniel Bassett, 1828. 
Luke Harris, 1829, 1831. 
Timothy Pickering, 1830, 

to 1836. 
John Parkhurst, 1836. 
Willard Randall, 1839. 
Danford Tyler, 1840 to 1844. 
Uberto Bowen, 1844. 
Edson Starkey, 1845 to i 

1852, 1853. 
William Bassett, 1848, 1849. 
A. W. Newell, 1850. 



D. S. Swan, 1851. 

O. F. Blanding, 1854, 1855. 

N. Naromore, 1856. 
1832 Calvin Bryant, 1857. 

J. W. Herrick, 1858, 1859. 

Cyrel Amadon, i860. 

N. G. Woodbury, 1861 to 1866. 

Stephen W. Williams, 1866. 

Hosea B. Aldrich, 1867. 
848, Amos G. Bennett, 1868 to 1874. 

Harvey Martin, 1874. 

Leason Martin, 1875 to 1881. 

John E. Norwood, 1881 to 1885. 



List of yustices of the Peace from the First Settlemetit of the 
Town to the Present Time, -ivith the Tear of their Appoint- 
7ne7it, so far as known. 



Henry Ingalls, prior to . . 1778 
Samuel Gaskill, " . . 1790 

Oliver Capron, " . . 1782 

Rufus Whipple 1790 

Moses Tyler 1804 

Joseph Weeks 1808 

Nathaniel Aldrich .... 1813 
Jonathan Atherton .... 1816 

Benjamin Newell 1819 

Jonathan Rawson .... 1828 

John Parkhurst 1829 

Joseph Newell 1830 

Silas Jillson 1831 

Timothy Pickering .... 1834 

Jarvis Weeks 1842 

Kendall Fisher 1844 

Job Bisbee 1S47 

Amos Bennett 1847 



William Wright 
Uberto Bowen 
Willard Randall . 
Samuel D. Allen 
John W. Herrick 
David B. Aldrich 
Amos W. Newell 
David BufFum, 2d 
Daniel R. Spauldin 
Elbridge G. Bemis 
Edson Starkey . . 
Stephen W. Willian 
Andrew Willoby 
A. G. Bennett. . 
Nahum Cass . . 
Joseph B. Abbott 
Edwin N. Bowen 
George W. Newell 



1850 
1850 
1S52 
1854 
185s 
1855 
1856 
1856 
1863 
1867 
1 868 
1871 
1S72 
1872 
1872 
1874 
1875 
1877 



FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE TOWN. 

The following table shows the valuation of the town 
at the present time, and the nature of the propert}' 
represented ; with this :dso is presented the Recapit- 



TOWN OF RICIOIOISD. 253 

ulation of the Selectmen, showing receipts, disburse- 
ments, assets, etc., for the last tinancial year: — 

Valuation, Taxes, etc., in 1883. 

Number of acres taxed in town .... 22,870 

Assessed value of same $182,225 00 

Value per acre $7 97 

Number of horses 147 

Value of horses 10,555 00 

Average value of each $72 00 

Neat stock over eighteen months old . . 460 

Value of same 14)676 00 

Sheep over six months old 303 

Value of same 1,004 00 

Stock in banks i)5oo 00 

Value of carriages i>345 00 

Stock in trade 7)931 00 

Money on hand or at interest 11,02400 

Value of mills 9,200 00 

Value of hogs moo 

Total value $239,571 00 

Recapitulation for year ending March i, 18S3. 
RECEIPTS. 

Cash in treasury $1,985 20 

Received State and County .... ..... 1,075 26 

" on sundry accounts 38 41 

" Edson Starkey, collector 95 

" Lewis R. Cass, collector 2,516 73 

f5.6i6 55 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

Incidental expenses $ 191 79 

Support of Town poor 235 37 

" County poor 204 75 

State and County tax 1,052 37 

Schools and school-houses .... ..... 1,023 26 

Highways and bridges 463 95 

Abatements 32 57 

Town otlicers 364 50 

Outstanding orders 17 00 

•*3)5S5 56 



254 HISTORY OF THE 

ASSETS. 

Cash in treasnrj March i, 1883 $2,030 99 

Barber place 25 00 

Boyce place 150 00 

Due from County 6 00 

" State bounty on wild animals ... 15 40 

" Collector, 1882 73 50 

" Henry S. Whitmore, cost on taxes . i 36 

" Willard White, taxes and cost ... 14 47 

$2,316 72 

LIABILITIES. 

Money due school districts $ 348 63 

Due school from dog tax unexpended .... 52 00 

Literary fund due schools 6S 54 

469 17 

Assets over and above indebtedness $1,847 55 

Number of polls 182 

Number of scholars 153 

Total amount of taxes for all purposes . $2,584 00 





WM.WRIGHT. 

REP. S, SELECTMAN. 




AHAZ CASS. 

SELECTMAN . 




CHAS.W.CONWAY. 

COM. ON HISTORY. 






ZlMRl BOWEN, 

COM. ON M I5T0 RY. 




UBERTO BOWEN. 

SELLCTMAN. 




CAPT. DAVID BUFFUM. 

CO. A. 



ALONZO RAWSON. 






H0RATI0A.NEL50N. 



TOWN OFFICERS AND OTHERS. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 255 

CHAPTER VII. 
THE GENEALOGY OF FAMILIES. 



Abbott — Adams — Ainsworth — Aldrich — Allen — Amadou — Ames — Anderson — Ar- 
nold — Atherton — Babcock — Baker — Ball — I5allard — Ballon — Barber — Barden 
Barker— Barrus — Barney — Barrett — Bassett — Battles — Beals — Bemis — Bennett — 
Benson — Bigelow — Bisbee — Bishop — Black — Blanding — Bliss — Bolles — Boorn 

— Bowen — Boyce — Brigham — Brittan — Brown — Bryant — Buffum — Bullock — 
Bump — Butterfield — Buxton — Capron — Cargill — Carkin — Carpenter — Carroll 

— Carter — Cass — Chase — Chapman — Cheever — Cheeney — Church — Clark — 
Clapp — Colburn — Cole — Combs — Conway — Cooley — Cook — Corey — Corliss — 
Crane — Crossman — Cressey — Crooker — Cummings — Cumstock — Curtis — Dand- 
ley — Daniels — Darling — Davenport — Day — Dexter — Dillingham — Din.snian — 
Dodge — Doolittle — Ellis — Ellor — Emerson — Erskine — Estas — Evans — F isher — 
Flint — Frazier — Freeman — French — Fuller — Gage — GarnsTy — Gaskill — Gay 

— Gleason — Goddard — Goodwin — Goodnow — Goodnough — Graves — Grant — 
Green — Grout — Grover — Guild — Hamilton — Hammond — Hale — Handy — 
Harkness — Harris — Hayward — Herrick — Hews — Hills — Hill — Hix — Hol- 
brook — Howe — Howard — Hubbard — Huntley — Hunting — Hunt — Ingalls — 
Ingersoll — Jessop — Jillson — Johnson — Jittem — Josslin — Kelton — Kenney — 
Kingsley — Kinsman — Kinipton — Knap — Lawrence — Lester — Lyon— Man — Martin — 
Mason — Meader — Mellin — Merrifield — Miller — Mowry — Mullen — Munroe — 
Naromore — Nason — Nelson — Newell — Newton — Norwood — Nourse — Nutting 

— Ormsby — Page — Paine — Palmer — Parker — Parkhurst — Patch — Perry — 
Peck — Peters — Phillips — Pickering — Piper — Potter— Powers— Prescott — Put- 
ney — Ramsdall — Randall — Rawson — Raymer — Razee — Raynolds — Read — 
Rich — Rice — Robinson — Roper — Russell — Saben — Salisbury — Scott — Smead 

— Shatter — Smith — Southwick — Spaulding — Spencer — Sprague — Starkey — 
Streeter — St. Clair — Stoddard — Swan — Sweet — Swift — Sweetzer — Taf t — Tay- 
lor — Temple — Tenney — Thayer — Threshire — Thompson — Thornton — Thurber 

— Tillson — Torrey — Truesdall — Tucker — Tuttle — Twitchell — Tyler —Wakefield 
Wallace — Walker — Ward — Ware — Warren — Weatherhead — Weeks— Westcoat 

— Wheaton — Wheeler — White — Wilson — Whipple — Whitcomb — Whitaker — 
Whittemore — Whitman — Whitmore — Whitney — Wing — Williams — Willoby — 
Wiswall — Woodbury — Woodward — Wooley — Work — Wright — Young — Yates. 



ABBOTT. 

yocl Abbott lived near Martin's mills about 1812 ; 
was a cloth dresser ; shop above the mills, near the 
reservoir. 

yoseph B. Abbott^ Esq., from Surry, N. H., m. 
Lydia, dr. of Leason Martin, Sept. i, 1859; during 



256 HISTORY OF THE 

the war was in the sanitary commission four years ; 
lived in town 1866-1878 ; was on the board of select- 
men four years, and is now one of the county com- 
missioners, and lives in Keene ; had Florence S., b. 
July 18, 1865 ; Leon M., b. August, 1867. 

ADAMS. 

Darius Adams, the father of Obed E. Adams, lived 
on the Capt. Oliver Capron place, i8io-'ii ; died of 
typhus fever, the prevailing epidemic, 181 2. 

Obcd E. Adams, from Boston, bought, 1850, the 
farm formerly owned by Moses Tyler. Sold to 
Charles W. Conway, 1865, and removed to the old 
Wakefield hotel, which he purchased and repaired, 
and for a short time sold goods in the store part 
thereof; and finally sold and returned to Boston, 
where he died. 

AINSWORTH. 

Edward Ainsworth was f. s. on L. 2, R. 12, 
known as the Asahel Kelton place. He sold to 
Michael Barrus, 1772, and removed to Claremont, 
N. H. 

ALDRICH. 

Dr. Aaron Aldrich appears to have been the son 
of Moses and Hannah Aldrich, of Mendon, and was 
b. Jan. 3, 1734; m. Mary Wheat, May i, 1753. He 
settled on the lot of land next north of Thomas 
Bowen's, now Zimri's, L. 15, R. 4. His house was 
on the east side of the road leading from Bowen's to 
Benson's, near which lived also his son Solomon. 
Royal, another son, built a house on the west side of 
the road, the same afterwards occupied by Preserved 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 257 

Whipple, Robert Swan, and others. He was prob- 
ably the first practicing physician in town ; was 
chosen by the town a grammar-school rnaster, 177^ 5 
had three sons, viz. : Solomon, b. Dec. 18, 1753, Royal, 
and Ziba. Solomon m. Rebecca Webber, April 5, 
1775 ; had Mary, Hannah, and Aaron. Ziba m. 
Hannah Webber, Nov. 19, 1775 ; had Nathaniel and 
Ziba. No other record of the family of Dr. Aldrich 
or his sons. They probably removed to Mount 
Holly, Vt. 

Rev. Artenias Aldrich, son of Jonathan and Pa- 
tience Aldrich, of Mendon, was b. May 21, 1746. 
He was f. s. on L. 20, R. 6, the place where Joseph 
Newell, sr., and Joseph Newell, jr., since resided. 
He became minister of the second Baptist church, 
1776, and probably retained the pastorate during the 
separate existence of this church. He removed from 
town about 1791. Had ten children. 

dipt. Abner Aldrich, son of David and Hannah 
Aldrich, of Mendon, was b. Nov. 17, 1727 ; ist m. 
Elizabeth Cook, dr. of Dea. Nicholas Cook, of Bel- 
lingham, Nov. 2, 1747 ; 2d m. Anna Brown, Dec. 16, 
1805. He was in the Colonial service in the old 
French and Indian war ; went on the expedition to 
Canada, 1758 ; removed to Richmond, 1768. He 
bought L. 23, R. 5, and the adjoining lot north in 
Swansey, on the latter of which he settled; had four 
children b. in Mendon, viz. : Abner, Hannah, m. 
Freeman ; Simeon, and Phila, m. J. A. Barney ; 
had also Nicholas, Susanna, ist m. Ebenezer Cole, 2d 
Stephen Jillson ; and Ananias. He d. Oct. 31, 1815, 
aged 88, while living with his son Ananias. His 
first wife d. May 7, 1804 ; age 75. 
17 



25S HISTORY OF THE 

Abncr Aldrich^ jr., bought of Aaron Cumstock the 
farm known as the Henry Rice place in 1768. He 
lived on the Ebenezer Cole place, near the town 
pound, from 1777 to 1781, and there kept a tavern, 
and was probably the f. s. on L. 22, R. 4; had 
Prudence, Ezra, and Roby. He died about 1782. 

Simeon Aldrich — Abner — m., Dec. 9, 1779, Abi- 
gail Giles. 

Nicholas Aldrich — Abner — m. Lucinda, dr. of 
Paul Handy. He lived a while on a small place 
east of Levi Aldrich's. He had the misfortune to 
lose one of his legs. He d. about 1820, and she d. 
Aug. 8, 1878 ; both died in Swansey ; had Barbara, 
Simeon, Lucinda, Nicholas, Ananias, and Lillis, who 
m. Paul Martin. 

Ananias Aldrich — Abner — m. Mary Randall, 
dr. of Abraham, June 27, 1774. He settled on L. 
23, R. 5, the farm now owned b}^ David W. Williams. 
He was the first builder of a saw-mill on the premises, 
which were formerly described as "Aldrich's mill." 
He died 1826. Children: Abraham, b. Jan. 23, 
1775 ; Isaac, b. x^pril 9, 1777, m. Abigail Aldrich, 
March 12, 1801; Silence, b. June 30, 1779; Na- 
thaniel, b. June 2, 1781 ; Waity, b. June 3, 1783 ; 
Rufus, b. Sept. 28, 1785, m. Elizabeth Aldrich, 
March 15, 1807; Phila, b. Aug. 27, 1787, ist m. 
Aaron Tenney, 2d m. John Wheeler; Elizabeth, b. 
Aug. 12, 1789, m. Marshall ; Judith, b. Oct. 20, 
1791, m. Joseph Buffum, May 13, 1810; Susanna, 
m. Calvin Bryant, Feb. 27, 1812. 

Isaac Aldrich — Ananias — Abner — m. , March 
12, 180T, Abigail, dr. of Levi Aldrich; had David, 
b. Aug. 10, 1801 ; Ananias, b. April 2, 1803. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 259 

Lot Aldrick, son of John and Mary, b. Oct. 30, 
1754, of Northbridge, bought, 1784, the Job Newell 
place, L. 16, R. 8, situated north of the Dea. 
Simeon Thayer farm. He lived there a few years, 
and then exchanged the place with Levi Randall for 
a farm in Troy, where he removed about 1800. He 
ist m. Sarah Robertson, daughter of John, April 18, 
1779; 2d m. wid. Bethiah Nigh, of Svvansey, Nov. 
24, 1800. Children by Sarah : Olive, b. Dec. 20, 
1779; Ezra, b. Oct. 13, 1781 ; Huldah, b. Nov. 28, 
1783 ; Mary, Lucy, Elijah, Lydia, Bethsheba, Sarah, 
John. Record incomplete. 

William Aldrich lived in a house east of John 
Scott's, probably on L. 19, R. 11, in 1783. The 
house is mentioned as that of the late William 
Aldrich. Had one son named Doctor Aldrich, b. 
Mar. 12, 1776. No other record. 

Silas Aldi'ich m. Mehetabel ; was the first settler 
on the farm where Joseph Starkey, jr., lived. He re- 
removed to Danby, Vt. Had four children, viz. : 
Merriam, Lucy, Hannah, and Joanna. 

Henry Aldrich^ a brother of Silas, lived on the 
west side of the road, south of the Luke Cass place, 
and north of the watering place. He went to Liver- 
more, Me. Had Sarah, m. Seth Ballou, jr. 

Pattl Aldrich m. Susanna Cook, Dec. 11, 1777. 
He lived on the east side of the road south of Nahum 
Aldrich's, part L. 19, R. 4. Had five children, viz. : 
Peter, Esther, Phila, Sylvanus, and Paul. 

Uriah Aldrich m. Mary Dawson, Oct. 15, 1786, 
and lived south of Luke Cass' ; had Moses, who 
went to Middlesex, Vt., and Ira, born Feb. 13. 1787, 



26o HISTORY OF THE 

who m. Anna Holbrook, dr. of David, March 25, 
1810. Ira had Mary Ann, Marcellus L.,b. June 23, 
1809; Lorinda, b. Feb. i, 1813, m. Christopher 
Robinson, and Luke Cass, b. April 18, 1824. 

Marcellus L. Aldrich — Ira — Uriah — m. Eliza- 
beth S. Crooker, dr. of Benjamin, Sept. 17, 1832. 
He removed to Rochester, N. Y. 

Levi, Nathaniel, and Nathan Aldrich, together 
with Amasa, who settled in Swansey, were brothers, 
and came from Mendon and settled in the north-east 
part of the town. Two other brothers, Luther and 
David, settled in Pennsylvania. 

Levi Aldrich, one of the brothers above named, 
m. Elizabeth Perry. Settled on L. 22, R. 3, the 
place afterwards occupied by his son Noah. He was 
a blacksmith ; had a trip-hammer shop and small 
iron furnace, by means of which he supplied the 
settlers with castings. He d. May 19, 1818, aged 
65 ; she d. April 28, 1829, aged 76. Had ten chil- 
dren, viz. : Olney, b. April 25, 1775, m. Mollie 
Woodward, Feb. 25, 1796; Louis, b. Sept. 23, 1776, 
d. Sept. II, 1788; Sylvanus, b. Oct. 6, 1778, m. 
Sarah Wheeler, of Swansey, July 3, 1798 ; Abigail, 
b. Sept. 12, 1781, m. Isaac Aldrich, March 12, 1801 ; 
Levi, b. Sept. 10, 1783, m. Waity Aldrich, dr. of 
Ananias; Noah, b. Dec. 9, 1788, Elizabeth, b. Jan. 
9, 1788, m. Rufus Aldrich, March 15, 1807 ; Lucy, 
m. Samuel Doty; Leah, b. April 20, 1790, m. Seth 
Bisbee, Nov. 29, 1810 ; Lj^dia, m. Joseph Starkey, 
jr., Feb. 20, 181 2. None of the descendants of Levi 
Aldrich now live in Richmond, and the buildings 
have disappeared from the place. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 261 

Noah Aldrich — Levi — m. Waitslill Starkey, dr. 
of Joseph, sr., May 15, 181 1. He was a blacksmith. 
Removed to Pennsylvania soon after his marriage, 
but returned to his father's place, and then went to 
Rhode Island; returned again, and worked at his 
trade at the Four corners and at the old homestead, 
and finally removed again to Pennsylvania, about 
1845. He utilized the water-power on the old farm 
by putting in an overshot water-wheel, probably the 
first of the kind ever made in town. Had seven chil- 
dren, viz. : Angela, who m. Augustus Cass ; Mi- 
randa, m. Bradley Flemings ; Joseph, Benjamin, m. 
Lona Thayer, dr. of Asa; Waitstill, m. Joseph 
Oakman ; Leander, and Jillson. 

Nathaniel Aldrich^ Esq., brother of Levi, b. Dec. 
3, 1755, m. Cleopatra Ramsdell. He settled on L. 
19, R. 2, on the road leading to Troy, by the Merri- 
field place. He held many important town offices, 
and was a representative to the General Court. He 
removed to Danby, Vt., 1825, and spent the last years 
of his life with his daughter Nancy, who m. Isaac 
Wilbur. Had twelve children, viz. : William, b. 
May 20, 1775, d. Sept. 26, [778 ; Luther, b. May 20, 
1775, d. May 22, 1775 ; John, b. Nov. 23, 1777, m. 
Prusia Streeter, Oct. 18, 1798; Nancy, b. June 6, 
1779, "^- Isaac Wilbur; Moses, b. April 20, 1783, 
m. Priscilla Dexter, of Royalston, Feb. 20, 1811, and 
lived in Marlborough; Lois, b. June 20, 1785, m. 
Ezra Bowen ; x^nna, b. June 28, 1788, m. Hosea 
Benson; Aaron, b. Jan. 4, 1790, m. Mary Harkness, 
dr. of John ; Seth, b. May 27, 1792, d. May 9, 1793 ; 
Mary, b. Sept. 24, 1794, m. Moses B. Wlreaton ; 
Phila, b. March 17, 1797, m. Job Benson ; Nathaniel, 
jr., b. June 8, 1781, d. July 29, 1800. None of the 



262 HISTORY OF THE 

descendants of Esquire Aldrich are known to be in 
town. The buildings on the old farm are gone, and 
the place is unoccupied. 

Aaron Aldi'ich — Nathaniel — m. Mary, dr. of 
John Harkness. He settled on the homestead, and 
lived there until about 1835, when he removed to 
Tioga County, Penn. Had Horace, Nancy, John, 
Caroline, Elliot, Aaron, and perhaps others. 

yohn Aldrich — Nathaniel — m. Prusia Streeter, 
and had one son, Nathaniel. This son m. Betsy 
Woodward, and removed to Pennsylvania. 

Nathan Aldrich, brother of Levi and Nathaniel, 
m. Martha Jillson ; settled on L. 20, R. 4. His 
house was on the road leading from the Benson place 
to Swansey ; had a family of nine children, from 
whom have descended all of the family name now 
residing in Richmond. The farm is unoccupied, and 
the buildings have been removed. He d. April 8, 
1832, aged 82 ; she d. Feb. 8, 1827, aged 75. 
Children: Nahum, b. Aug. 28, 1774; Levin, b. 
May 24, 1777 ; Rhoda, b. Sept. i, 1779, m. William 
Crane, April 20, 1800; Waity, b. March 11, 1782, 
m. Obed Bolles, 2d, Dec. 27, 1803 ; Nathan, b. April 
9, 1784, m. Betsy Wheelock and removed to Pennsyl- 
vania ; Patty, b. Aug. 6, 1786, m. Stephen Potter; 
Luke, b. Oct. 25, 1788; Vina, b. Sept. 17, 1790, d. 
young; Sarah, b. Oct. 9, 1792, m. Eli Page. 

Nahum Aldrich — Nathan — ist m. Sarah Jillson, 
2d m. widow Esther Davenport, Oct. 8, 1818. His 
residence was the one next south of his father's. He 
was twice elected representative to the General Court ; 
he d. March 29, 1863, aged 88; Sarah d. Feb. 13, 
1818 ; Esther d. Dec. 15, 1867. Children by Sarah : 



J 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 263 

Liberty, m. Mary, dr. of Laban Thornton; Susanna, 
m. William Jones ; Amasa, ist m. Susanna Thomp- 
son, 2d m. Anna Tolman ; Clarissa, died March 3, 
1829, aged 25 ; Ellery K., b. Sept. 8, 181 1. Children 
by Esther: Sarah, Esther, Nahum, d. March 15, 
1831, aged 7 ; Waitstill, Jillson, d. young. 

Levin Aldrich — Nathan — m. Mary Bolles, dr. 
of John, Jan. 3, 1800. He bought the Moses Martin 
farm, and continued on the same during his life ; had 
ten children, viz. : Eunice, b. Jan. 26, 1801 ; Benja- 
min, b. May 25, 1803 ; Arnold, b. May 25, 1803, d. 
May 16, 1852, aged 49 ; Vienna, b. Sept. 19, 1806, 
1st m. Robert Swan, jr., 2d m. Lucius Scott; Jerome 
B., b. April 16, 1808; David B., b. June 19, 1811 ; 
Adaline, b. June 19, 1814, m. Abner Twitchell ; 
Morandy, b. April 14, 1817, m. Lyman Holbrook ; 
Lucius, b. May 5, 1820; Hosea B. b. Feb. i, 1823. 
He d. May 15, 1855, aged 78 ; she d. April 29, 1859, 
aged 79. 

Luke Aldrich — Nathan — m. Mary Martin, dr. of 
George, March 7, 1816. He settled on the same lot 
of land with his father ; his house stood north of tlie 
old homestead. He d. March 24, 1846, of small- 
pox ; she d. Dec. 4, 1864. Had eight children, viz. : 
Elbridge, b. May 18, 1817, lived in Worcester, d. 
Dec. 4, 1879; Mary Ann, b. Nov. i, 1818 ; Robert, 
b. March 5, 1820; Emily, b. May 20, 1823, d. April 
29, 1878 ; Sally, m. Christopher Tracy, b. March 29, 
1826, d. May 20, 1873; Nathan, b. Aug. 31, 1828, 
d. April 27, 1858; George, b. May 15, 1830, moved 
to Pennsylvania, d. Jan. 18, 1861 ; Martha J., b. May 
22, 1832, m. Nahum Cass. 



264 HISTORY OF THE 

Liberty Aldrich — Nahum — Nathan — m. Mary, 
dr. of Laban Thornton ; was a wheelwright ; lived on 
the place since owned by Ellery K. ; had Eunice and 
Laban T. ; d. April 11, 1828. 

Ainasa Aldrich — Nahum — ist m. Susanna 
Thompson, 2d m. Anna Tolman, of Troy. By 
Anna, had Andrew, lives in Keene ; Angeline, m. 
Garfield, lives in Swansey. 

Ellery K. Aldrich — Nahum — Nathan — ist m. 
Candace Taylor, dr. of Elias, Dec. 15, 1834, 2d m. 
widow Angela M. Price, of Boston ; 3d m. Sarah, 
dr. of John Starkey, Jan. i, 1879. Candace d. 
March 8, 1873; Angela d. July 4, 1877. By Can- 
dace, had Harriet S., b. Jul}'^ 20, 1836; Susan, b. 
May 26, 1838; Lydia, b. Oct. 16, 1841 ; Frank S., 
b. June 19, 1842. He lived on the Liberty Aldrich 
place until he removed to Swanse3% 1872. 

'Jerome Aldrich — Leven — Nathan — m. Sabrina 
Knight, of Gilsum ; was for many years with Parker, 
Gannett & Co., of Boston ; he d. 1883. 

Benjamin Aldrich — Leven — Nathan — m. Ma- 
hala Martin, dr. of David, Aug. 31, 1826; was a 
carpenter; lived in North Richmond; d. April 22, 
1882. Had Almina, b. Jan. 31, 1827, m. David W. 
Williams; Charles \\'., b. Feb. 7, 1831 ; Anderson, 
b- Oct. II, 1834 ; Phebe J., b. Jan. 16, 1843. 

David B. Aldrich — Levin — Nathan — ist m. 
Olive Martin, dr. of David, Feb. i, 1835, she d. 
Jan. 17, 1840; 2d m. widow Narcissa M. Crooker, 
Nov. 4, 1840, she d. Oct. 21, 1842; 3d m. Atlanta 
Martin, dr. of Jesse, Feb. 8, 1843, she d. Dec. 17, 
1853 ; 4th m. Elmira Hartwell, May 25, 1854, she 
d. Aug. 24, 1863 ; 5th m. Mary Whipple, dr. of 



1 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 265 

Isquire, July 6, 1864, she d. Jan. 14, 187 1 ; 6th m. 
widow Martha Fisher, June 22, 187 1. He is a car- 
penter; manufactured pails at North Richmond, 
18^2-^6 ; has lived on the Nathaniel Taft place since 
1850 ; has been selectman and representative to the 
General Court. Children by Olive: David II., b. 
Jan. 13, 1836; Luther, b. Sept. 24, 1837, d. Mar. 
27, i860. Children by Narcissa : Olive N., b. Nov. 
14, 1841, m. Laton Martin, of Keene. Children by 
Elmira : Daniel B., b. March 8, 1858 ; Myra F., b. 
Sept. 4, 1859; Attie H., b. Sept 8, 1861. 

Luciiis Aldrich — Levin — Nathan — m., Jan. 13, 
1848, Lucy Martin, dr. of Robert. He removed to 
Fitchburg. He there became a carpenter and master 
builder; was a member of the common council, and 
prominent in the management of the affairs of the 
city. He d. Jan. 12, 1882; she d. Sept. 28,1874; 
had Mary L., b. 1858. He 2d m. widow Collister, 
who survives him. 

Hosea B. Aldrich — Levin — Nathan — ist m. 
Emily Martin, dr. of Leason, Oct. 26, 1848 ; 2d m. 
Julia A. Swan, dr. of Ambrose, April 29, 1882. 
Emily d. April 12, 1881. By Emily, had Randall 
H., b. June, 1850; Frederick L., b. May 5, 1856; 
Fanny M., b. April 11, 1859; Emily E., b. Oct. 23, 
1864. 

Elbridgc Aldrich — Luke — Nathan — m. 

Amadon of Fitzwilliam. He removed to Worcester ; 
was a carpenter, and worked in Bradley's car-shop 
for many years. He d. Dec. 4, 1879. 

Robert Aldrich — Luke — Nathan — m. Eltheda, 
dr. of Jeremiah Barrus, jr.. May 16, 1847. He was 
a cooper ; lived at the Derrick Hews place, at the 



266 HISTORY OF THK 

Four corners. He d. Feb. 27, 1877 ; had Emma J., 
b. Aug. 6, 1857, who married Elvin D. Stovvell, of 
Winchester. 

Charles W. Aldrich, son of Benjamin, m. Martha 
A. Hill, of Fitzwilliam ; b. April 2, 1829 ; m. Dec. 20, 
1859. ^^ resides at North Richmond, on his father's 
place. Had Elliot W., b. Oct 2, 1866. 

Anderson Aldrich — Benjamin — Levin — Nathan 

— m. Almira, dr. of Henry Ballou, sr. He lives in 
Swansey. 

D. Henry Aldrich, son of David B., m. Mary 

Norwood, dr. of Charles Norwood. He lives in 

Orange, Mass. She d. Jan. 2, 1863. Had a child, 
d. in infancy. 

'Joseph Aldrich was f. s. on corner of L. 17, R. 3, 
on the west side of the road north of Benson's. 

Sands Aldrich, from Northbridge, 1836, m. Abi- 
gail ; had Sylvester, Sands, Daniel W., and 

Sally, d. Oct. 15, 1836. He d. Jan. 26, 1855, aged 
75 ; she d. Jan. 27, 1868, aged 83. 

Sylvester Aldrich — Sands — m. Sarah, dr. of 
Abner Twitchell. He came to town about 1828; 
lived at first on the Twitchell place ; 1845, he bought 
of Augustus Cass the old Luke Cass farm, and there 
resided until his death, Sept. 20, 1874, aged 69 ; had 
no children. She died June 25, 1876, aged 74. 

Sands Aldrich, jr., — Sands — m. Betsy Amadon, 
dr. of Jeremiah ; removed from town. 

Paine Aldrich, son of Amasa, of Swansey, m. 

Hammond, sister of Joseph Newell, jr.'s wife. 



He bouorht the Cook mills at North Richmond, 1820 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 267 

he built over, or repaired, the same. He removed to 
Worcester about 1830, and there acquired a compe- 
tency in building turn-tables. Had one son, Cy- 
renus, now living in Worcester. 



ALLEN. 

Three bearing this name appear among the early 
settlers of the town — Moses, Ezra, and Joseph — sons 
of Joseph and Lydia, of Mendon. The first two 
settled near each other, but Joseph bought a farm in 
the south-east part of the town. All of these came 
about 1767. Moses, only, permanently remained; 
the others removed from town prior to 1800. But 
few of the name remain. Jerahmeel and his son 
Eben are the only male representatives therein. 

Moses Allen, b. Nov. 30, 1745, ist m. Comfort 
Buftum, b. Dec. 10, 1745, dr. of Joseph Buftum, of 
Smithfield, and sister of Jedediah Buffum. He 
located on L. 9, R. 5, and built the house now stand- 
ing on the premises, 177 1. The farm is now owned 
and occupied by Amos Martin. 2d m. Phebe Mc- 
Intyre. Had ten children by Comfort, viz. : Abra- 
ham, b. Sept. 25, 1768 ; Jerahmeel, b. May 11, 1770 ; 
Moses, b. May 25, 1772 ; Comfort, b. Aug. 12, 1774, 
m. Silas Boyce ; Hannah, b. Sept. 24, 1776, m. 
Reuben Bowen ; Abigail, b. Dec. 5, 1779, m. Moses 
Emerson; Martha, b. June 3, 1781, m. Zephaniah 
Bowen; Margaret, b. Aug. 11, 1783, m. Martin 
Cass; Sally, b. June 30, 1786, m. Daniel Cass; 
Lydia, b. May 2, 1788, m. Sylvester Wicks, of 
Cranston, R. I. He d. 1824: Comfort d. Oct. 28, 
1804 ; Phebe d. 1829. 



268 HISTORY OF THE 

Ezra Allen, brother of Moses, b. Oct. i8, 1747, m. 
Lucy Mann, March 2, 1769: settled on the lot next 
south, L. 8, R. 5. His house stood about forty rods 
south of the road, on theridge towards the pond ; an old 
cellar-place, and some fruit trees still indicate the spot. 
He was succeeded by his brother Olvin, who sold to 
Moses Allen, jr. Ezra removed from town prior to 
1789, and died in Mendon, 1813. Had two children : 
Ruth, b. April 27, 1770, and Lydia, b. Dec. 3, 1772. 

"Josef h Allen, b. Jan. 7, 1755, m. Mollie Barne}', 
dr. of Constant, Dec. 27, 1776. He was the owner 
of the farm of which Jonathan and Nathan Cook were 
afterwards occupants. He sold to them. 1797 • ^^ 
was a soldier of the Revolution, and was in General 
Washington's army in New York, 1777- 

Abraham Allen — Moses -- m. Kesiah Potter, Dec. 
30, 1790. After his marriage he li^ed a few 3^ears 
on a place between Tully Brook and Danvers Mar- 
tin's, on the north side of the road. A few old apple 
trees are still about the old house spot. He re- 
moved to Croydon, N. H., about 1800. Had three 
children. 

Jerahmeel Allen — Moses — ist m. Mary Thurber, 
dr. of Hezekiah, April 19, 1792 ; 2d m. Rachel 
Emerson, of Stoddard, Oct. 4, 1798 ; Mary d. Sept. 
14, 1793. Had by Mary, Lilburn, b. April 5, 1793 ; 
and by Rachel had seven children, viz. : Melancy, 
b. Sept. 2, 1799, ist m. Otis Cass, 2d m. Nathaniel 
Kingsley : Hannah, b. April 18, 1802, m. Nathaniel 
Kingsley ; Ezra, b. Oct. i, 1805; Varnum, b. Oct. 
8, 1810; Lamira, b. Aug. 25, 1812: Mary, b. Oct. 
2, 1814, m. Winslow Taylor; Orrin M., b. April 30, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 269 

1817. He bought the east part of his father's farm. 
His buildings stood on the north side of the road, 
nearly opposite of where Benjamin Bliss now lives. 
He removed to the place now owned by Nathaniel 
Hills about 1839, ^^^^ ^" 1852, he, together with his 
sons, Varnum and Orrin M., removed to Tioga 
County, Penn. He was a blacksmith, and had a 
shop near his first place of residence. The buildings 
on the old place have been removed. He was over 
90 when he died. 

Moses Allen, jr. — Moses — m. Mary Dow, dr. of 
Nehemiah Dow, of Salisbury, N. H., Oct. 29, 1795. 
Had nine children, viz. : Sarah, b. Nov. 30, 1796, 
m. Elijah Arnold, of Smithfield; Judith, b. Jan. 26, 
1798, m. Jonathan M. Dow; Comfort, b. April 13, 
1800, m. Daniel Johnson, of Lynn; Buffum, b. 1802, 
m. Eunice Allen, and lived in Lynn ; Ruth, b. Dec. 
27, 1802, ist m. David Randall, 2d m. Obed Hark- 
ness ; Joanna, b. 1805, m. Richard Bowen ; Samuel 
D., b. 1807; Elizabeth, b. Dec. 8, 1809, m. Sumner 
Hewitt, and lives at Eagle Grove, Wright Co., Iowa ; 
Isquire S., d. young. He bought of his uncle Olvin, 
about 1795, the farm now owned and occupied by 
Mrs. S. D. Allen, and built the house now standing 
on the same about i8i2-'i5. He d. 1861, aged 89; 
she d. 1843, aged 77. 

Lilhuni AUcn — Jerahmeel — Moses — ist m. Zil- 
pah Cass., dr. of Jonathan, Nov. 9, 181 5 ; 2d m. 
widow Esther Whitcomb, dr. of Wilderness Martin. 
By Zilpah he had Lilburn, b. July 23, 1817, who m. 
widow Elizabeth Dustin, and removed to Pennsyl- 
vania and there d. April. 1880; Moses Ancil, b. Aug. 
3, 1821, m. Elvira Whipple, dr. of Otis, sr. ; Mary, 



270 HISTORY OF THE 

b. Feb. 27, 1825, m. Z. Anson Cass; Zimri, b. Oct. 
8, 1828, m. Amie Martin, dr. of Stephen, from Bar- 
ton, Vt. All of these children moved to Pennsyl- 
vania, except Moses A., who lives in Fitzwilliam. 
By Esther he had Asa W., b. July 18, 1836, and 
Jerahmeel, b. Dec. 7, 1837. Mr. Lilburn, sr., lived 
on the farm north of the old Paul Boyce place, and 
sold the same to his sons Asa W. and Jerahmeel, and 
went to Tioga County, Penn., and lived with his son 
Zimri, where he d. March 20, 1881. Zilpah d. June 
14, 1835, aged 43. Esther d. 1865. 

Ezra Allen — Jerahmeel — Moses — m. Emily 
Martin, dr. of John, son of Wilderness, and removed 
to Tioga County, Penn., 1848. Had Hannah, b. 
Sept. I, 1845 ; Ethan, b. Aug. 12, 1847. 

Santucl D. Allen — Moses — Moses — ist m. Har- 
riet Butteriield, dr. of lawyer Erastus Butterfield ; 2d 
m., April 12, 1866, Martha A. Foster, of Ashby. 
By Harriet he had two sons, viz. : Moses, b. 1842, 
and Milton, b. 1844. Moses enlisted in Company F., 
14th New Hampshire regiment, and was killed at the 
battle of Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Milton 
had the misfortune to lose a leg, which was ampu- 
tated at Keene. He removed to Wright County, 
Iowa, when he d. 1882. By Martha A. he had one 
dr., Lizzie A., b. March, 1867, m. Eben S. Allen, 
Oct. 25, 1882. Samuel D. bought his grandfather 
Allen's farm, and built the house now occupied by 
Mrs. W. C. Jillson. He moved to Wright county, 
Iowa, 1856, but returned at the breaking out of the 
Sioux war, and lived a while in the Friends' meeting- 
house, which he bought and repaired for a dwel- 
ling. He removed again to his father's place ; from 



I 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 27 1 

thence he went to Ashby, where he d. 1870, aged 63. 
His wife Harriet d. April 12, 1865, aged 56. 

Moses A. Allen, son of Lilburn, m., June 30, 1857, 
Elvira, dr. of Otis Whipple; lives in Fitzwilliam, on 
the Phineas Howe place. No children. 

Asa W. Allen, son of Lilburn, m. June 17, 1871, 
Ellen S. Wells. He lived with his brother Jerahmeel 
on the home place a while, and then removed to the 
farm formerly owned by George Handy. He d., by 
suicide. May 8, 1876. Left no children. 

ycrahmcel Allen, son of Lilburn, ist m. Melissa J. 
Swan, dr. of Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer, Dec. 9, 
1S60; 2d m. Lydia L. Bovven, dr. of Zimri, June 29, 
1875. Had by Melissa J., Eben S., b. Jan. 25, 
1861. He is the present proprietor of the old Wake- 
field tavern at the Four corners. Melissa J. d. March 
28, 1868. Had by Lydia, Asa Z., b. April 8, 1876 ; 
d. in infancy. 

Eben S. Allen — Jerahmeel — son of Lilburn, ra., 
Oct. 25, 1882, Lizzie A. Allen, dr. of Samuel D., 
and lives on the farm with his wife's mother. Had 
Asa S., b. April 28, 1883. 

AMADON. 

yereniiah Aniadon, b. March 31, 1780, m. Abigail 
Harvvood, b. March 30, 1781 ; came from Uxbridge 
to Svvansey, 1816 ; moved to Richmond, 1819; lived 
at various places in town ; finally bought the old 
Deacon John Cass farm, known as the Simeon Cook 
place, 1841. He d. Dec. 14, 1865, aged 87 ; she d. 
Aug. 16, 1871, aged 92. Had Maria, m. Loamma 
Green ; Abigail, m. Luther C. Curtis ; Cyrel, b. 



272 HISTORY OF THE 

April 2, 1812; Mcirtin, b. Aug., 1818 ; Betsy, m. 
Sands Aldrich, jr. ; Perley, b. July 15, 1821. 

Cyrcl Amadou — Jeremiah — m., Nov. 27, 1834, 
Adaline, dr. of Richard Weeks ; lives at the Four 
corners, on the place built by A & W. Bassett. Had 
Alonzo, b. in Swansey, Aug. 19, 1835, d. Jan. 16, 
1838 ; Frank, b. June 16, 1837 '■> Andrew, b. Feb. 14, 
1840 ; Julia, b. July 4, 1843 ; Henry, b. April 28, 
1845 ; Estella, b. Aug. 20, 1850, d. Sept. 21, 1865. 

Pcrlcy Amadou^ m., Nov. 29, 1843, Keziah, dr. of 
John Starkey ; lives on the Simon Cook farm, in a 
house once owned by William Weeks. Had Mary 
A., b. Feb. 26, 1845, m. Orlan Whipple; Edwin E., 
b. Sept. 29, 1848; George E., d. in infancy. 

Frank Amadou — Cyrel — Jeremiah — m. Hattie 
J., dr. of Silas Whipple, the son of Otis ; she d. 1876 ; 
lives near the Sprague mills ; is engaged in the lum- 
ber business. Had by Hattie J. : Enez R., b. May 
9, 1863 ; Emma E., b. June 16, 1867 ; two d. in in- 
fancy ; 2d m., Nov. 14, 1881, Lydia O., dr. of 
Alvan Barrus. Had by her an infant, b. Jan. 17, 
1883. 

Andrew Amadou — Cyrel — Jeremiah — m. Sil- 
oria, dr. of Zerah C. Goddard ; lives on the Zerah 
Goddard place, and owns the Sprague mills. Had 
Willie A., b. April 3, 1872; Daisy B., b. July 30, 
1877. 

Henry Amadou — Cyrel — Jeremiah — m. Lucy 
Combs ; lives on the Abraham Arnold place. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 273 

AMES. 

Luther Ames, from Brockton, Mass., ist m. Mary 
A. Spinney. She d. Feb. 25, 1880, aged 50; 2d 
m. Harriet L. widow of Ozra T. Cass, 1883. He 
lived on the Seth Curtis place from 1878 to 1881, and 
now resides on his wife's place. 

ANDERSON. 

'James Anderson, from Rhode Island, m. Nancy 
Parks. She d. 1873. Had seven children, three of 
whom live in town, viz. : Martha J., James B., and 
Mina R. 

James B. Anderson — James — m. Melissa J. 
Simonds ; lives in the Bowman Howe house. 

ARNOLD. 

Abraham Arnold, m., Feb. 13, 1794, Mary Bar- 
rus, dr. of Abraham Barrus. He lived on the Elisha 
Brigham place, now occupied b}'^ Henry Amadou. 
He removed to New York. Had Sarah, b. Oct. 29, 
1794. 

Augustus Arnold, from Winchester, bought the 
Thornton mills about 1848. Had Andrew S., Au- 
gustus, and Lucy, who d. 1863. He d. Dec. 19, 
1865. 

Andretu S. Arnold, son of Augustus, m Emeline 
E. Kimpton, dr. of Samuel ; lived with his father ; is 
now in Somerville, Mass. 

ATHERTON. 

Jonathan and Solomon Atherton, from Attleboro', 
were among the first settlers. The year the\' came 
18 



274 HISTORY OF THE 

we are unable to determine from any record at hand, 
but incline to the belief that they may have made 
their entry as early as 1762 ; but the time tradition 
says they were here was 1758, which is quite doubt- 
ful. Jonathan Atherton m. Amey Saben, Dec. 6, 1770. 
Had nine children, viz. : Jonathan, b. Oct. 27, 1771, 
d. Oct. 29, 1771 ; Orinde, b. Jan. 30, 1774, d. March 
13, 1774; Jonathan, b. Jan. 17, 1776, d. young; 
Peltiah, b. Jan. 31, 1778, d. Feb. 26, 1778; Saben, 
b. Jan. 15, 1779 ; Jonathan, b. March 11, 1781 ; Amey, 
b. Oct. 28, 1783, m. James Kelton ; Sarah, b. Dec. 

28, 178-, m. Samuel Bliss ; Samuel, b. Jan. 29, 1790, 
m. Patience Tyler, and moved to Attleboro". Mr. 
Atherton settled on L. 3, R. 12, and the place has 
been kept in the family name to the present time. 
He d. Aug. 20, 1814, aged 76 ; she d. April 23, 1800, 
aged 53. 

Saben Athei'ton — Jonathan — m. Nancy Reed, 
Jan., 1806. Had Alvan, b. Nov. 9, 1806; Amey, b. 
June 26, 1813, m. Willard Forbes. He, together 
with his brother Jonathan, lived on the old home- 
stead. He was on the board of selectmen three 
years. He d. Feb. 22, 1841, aged 62 ; she d. Nov. 

29, 1832, aged 49. 

'Jonathan Atherton^ jr. — Jonathan — m. Azubah 
Bliss of Royalston. Had nine children, viz. : Jonathan 
B., b. Dec. 29, 1810; Samuel, b. March 26, 1812 ; 
Mary, b. Feb. 27, 1815, m. Asahel Jewell, d. Sept. 

30, 1881 : Eliza, b. Jan. 11, 1817, d. Sept. 20, 
1849; Rhoda, b. Feb. 11, 1819, d. Jan. 31, 1824; 
Julia A., b. June 11, 1821, d. June 12, 1824; 
Sarah N., b. April 14, 1823, d. Jan. 11, 1824; Rhoda 
E., b. Feb. 10, 1826, d. Sept. 28, 1880, m. Henry 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 275 

Holman ; William, b. April 4, 1828, m. Emily A. 
Bliss. He, with his brother Saben, inherited their 
father's farm, and lived together in the same house. 
He removed to Winchester, 1835. He was a justice 
of the peace, representative to the General Court five 
times, selectman seven years, and moderator at the 
annual meetings fifteen years. 

Alvan Athcrton — Saben — Jonathan — m. Mary 
Ann Stearns, of Warwick, June 10, 1835. He re- 
mained on the old homestead, and had the whole 
farm after his uncle moved to Winchester. He was 
on the board of selectmen four years. Had eight 
children, viz.: Nancy A., b. May 22, 1836; A. 
Halsey, b. Aug. 12, 1837: Eunice x\., b. Feb. 14, 
1839, ^' Sept. 24, 1841 ; Ann M., b. July 13, 1840, 
d. Oct. 10, 1841 ; Arlon S., b. April 4, 1842 ; Maria 
A., b. April 9, 1844, d. Dec. 27, 1867 ; William S., 
b. March 7, 1846; David L., b. March 9, 1848, d. 
Oct. 4, 1871. He d. Dec. 28, 1863 ; she d. Nov. 12, 
1876. 

A. Halsey At her ton, son of Alvan, m. Esther S. 
Swan, dr. of James, June 19, 1868. He lived on the 
old place until the house built by his great-grand- 
father was destroyed by fire, 1878. Since then he 
has removed to Winchester. None bearing the x\th- 
erton name now remain in town. Had four children : 
Mary E., b. April 6, 1869; Cora L., b. June 10, 
1872 ; James A., b. May 9, 1876; Willie S., b. July 
20, 1881 ; d. Feb. 19, 1882. 

Solomon Athcrton ist m. Doroty ; 2d m. Marv 
Alexander, Jan. 9, 1794. Had by Doroty : Samuel, 
b. Aug. 27, 1766; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 19, 1768; 
Simeon, b. Dec. 31, 1769: Rufus, b. May 3, 1773. 



276 HISTORY OF THE 

By Mary had Lemuel, b. April 27, 1778, d. 1851. 
His place was on L. 4, R. 12, and generally known 
as the Reuben Rich place. The buildings are now 
demolished, and the farm is growing up to wood. 
He d. Nov. 15, 1813, aged 73. 

Simeon Athcrton — Solomon — m. Peggy Barrus, 
dr. of John Barrus, April 17, 1797. No other record 
of family. 

BABCOCK. 

Ebenezer Babcock, from Swansey, m. Mahala, dr. 
of Hon. Joseph Weeks. He served apprenticeship 
with Daniel Bassett at the tanning and currying 
business, removed to Winchester about 1830. Re- 
mained there a short time, and then removed to 
S wanton, Vt., and from thence went to Blackhawk 
County, Iowa., where he bought a large tract of 
land, and was at last account engaged in farming 
and in land speculation. 

BAKER. 

Eleazer Baker ^ blacksmith, lived in the corner- 
house, opposite Peregrine Wheeler's, from 1806 to 
1814, and worked in the shop at that place. 

BALL. 

Daniel Ball, from Troy, m., Dec. 3, 1815, Han- 
nah, dr. of Elder Nathaniel BoUes ; lived a while on 
the road west of Elias Taylor's, about 1840. No 
record of family. 

BALLARD. 

Dr. Stepheyi Ballard, m. sister of Josiah Hix. He 
lived on the place which was south of Dennis Hark- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 277 

ness', and now constitutes a part of his farm. Had 
Anna, m. Joseph Weeks, Esq. ; and a son, Silas. 



BALLOU. 

Four famihes of Ballous and their descendants 
comprise all of the name that have lived in town. 
Marturin, James, and Jesse, were nearly the first 
on their respective lots, although on James', as 
also on Jesse's, there probably was a part cleared 
and a loiT-house on the same, before he came. 
Jared, who came some years after the others, 
bought an improved farm. All the Ballous now 
living in town are descendants of James. The an- 
cestral head of nearly all the Ballous from Rhode 
Island, was Maturin Ballou, an immigrant to Provi- 
dence, R. I., about 1640, who was contemporary 
with Roger Williams, and has been described as a 
French Huguenot, and in some publications of a 
recent date as a minister of the Baptist faith, the 
latter of which was probably incorrect. 

The Maturin- Ballou Faj)iily. 

The following items of interest in relation to the 
genealogy of the family, with general remarks relating 
to various members of the same, are extracted from 
the biography of Hosea Ballou : — 

In relation to the genealogy of the family, we have it in detail as 
far back, on the paternal side, as his great-great-grandfather, Mat- 
teaurian Ballou, — so the name was spelled by him, — who came 
from England, though a Frenchman by descent, about the year 
1640. He occupied a portion of a royal grant of land about that 
time purchased from the Narragansett tribe of Indians by an agent 
of the crown; this tract was situated in the present state of Rhode 



278 



HISTORY OF THE 



Island, where descendants of the family still reside. This Matteau- 
rian Ballou's oldest son was named John, whose second son was 
named Matteaurian, who also had a son named Matteaurian, who in 
turn had eleven children — six sons and five daughters, the youngest 
of the family being named Hosea, the subject of these memoirs. 

His father. Rev. Maturin Ballou, was remarkable for his unosten- 
tatious manner, his forgiving spirit and meekness, and the strict 
consistency of a life devoted, as he truly believed, to the service and 
glory of his Divine Master. He remained a highly respected and 
influential member of the Baptist church until the time of his death, 
at the age of eighty-two years. Benjamin, the oldest, was a man of 
strict integrity, and possessed a penetrating and powerful intellect. 
For some years the power of early influences and associations 
moulded his life, and he preached the Baptist religion, but was sub- 
sequently converted to Universalism by his younger brother Hosea, 
and lived and died in its faith, continuing to the good old age of 
eighty-two. This was the grandfather of Rev. Dr. Ballou of Med- 
ford, Mass., Rev. Wm. S. Ballou, of Staflford, Vt., and Rev. Levi 
Ballou of Orange, Mass. David was the third son, and he also 
preached tlie Baptist faith, but like the eldest brother, was erelong 
persuaded of the truth of the doctrine of universal salvation, which 
he preached for many years, possessing a strong and well balanced 
mind and powerful argumentative abilities. He died at the age of 
eightvtwo. This was the father of Rev. Moses Ballou of Bridge- 
port, Ct. The fourth son was named Nathan, a man of remarkable 
mental and physical strength, who gave his attention mainly to ag- 
ricultural pursuits, and who lived to be nearly eighty years of age. 
This was the grandfather of Rev. Russell A. Ballou of West Bridge- 
water, Mass. Stephen was the fifth son, and combining many of 
the best qualities of his elder brothers, and possessing a most up- 
right and conscientious disposition, was yet remarkable for the en- 
dowment of a large degree of native wit and humor. He also de- 
voted himself to agriculture, and lived to nearly the age of seventy. 
All these brothers were possessed of a handsome competencj', real- 
ized by their own economy and industry. The daughters were 
variously espoused, and lived, all but one, who died at the age of 
twenty, to be venerable and honored in years, and with a numerous 
oft'spring. 

On the maternal side these children were descended from Lydia 
Harris, daughter of Richard Harris, who, like his ancestors, was a 
Qiiaker. His forefathers came to this country to escape the persecu- 
tion of the seventeenth century in England, when the infatuated 
Charles was oppressing his subjects by restricting the freedom of 
industry and billeting soldiers upon the people in times of peace, 
when the private papers of citizens were searched on mere suspic- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 279 

ion, and when the bigoted Laud ruled with as high a hand and reck- 
less a purpose in the church as his royal master did in the state. 
Citizens claiming the right of freely uttering what thev honestly 
believed to be true on the subject of religion were fined, whipped, 
and imprisoned. Ministers and educated citizens were branded on 
the forehead, their noses slit and their ears cropped for dissenting 
from Popish rites and ceremonies. To escape such intolerable per- 
secution Quakers crossed the ocean. But, alas ! persecution fol- 
lowed them even in the wilds of America. Individuals who had left 
home, friends, country, and all for the privilege of worshipping the 
Almighty after the dictates of their own consciences, did not hesitate 
to deny others that privilege for which they had themselves sacri- 
ficed so much, simply because theydiflfered from them in form o 
faith. 

Rev. Maturin Ballon, the first minister in Rich- 
mond, was b. Oct. 30, 1722 ; m. Lydia, dr. of 
Richard Harris, of Smithfield, R. I. ; was father of 
the celebrated Rev. Hosea Ballon, and was the 
fourth in descent from the original Maturin afore- 
named ; and his lineage runs through Peter, his 
father, to John, his grandfather, who was the eldest 
son of the first Maturin ; hence the subject of our 
notice was the great-grandson of the first ot the 
name. Rev. Thomas Whittemore, speaking of Ma- 
turin, in his "Life of Hosea Ballou," says that — 

Maturin was not educated for the ministry, but he began to 
preach in Smithfield, 1752, at the age of 30. He preached in Paw- 
tucket, and also at Scituate, and thence he removed to Richmond, 
1767 or 1768. Richmond had been settled by a few families from 
Massachusetts and Rhode Island, about 1757, and among others 
were Anthony and Uriah Harris, brothers of Maturin's wife. She 
also had two sisters, Mrs. Sweet and Mrs. Phillips. 

On making a visit to these relatives, he was in- 
vited to take up his abode among them, which soon 
after he did, in 1768. He was by trade a maker of 
old-time spinning wheels, and these he continued to 
make for many years. -His first wife died 1773, and 



250 HISTORY OF THE 

he m. Lydia Blois, of Attleboro', 1774. By his 
first wife he had eleven children. He d. 1805, and 
was buried in the Benson cemetery, marked by a 
stone inscribed with simpl}' the letters "M. B." 
Mary, b. in Rhode Island, Oct. 30, 1745, m. David 
Bullock, Oct 17, 1771 ; Benjamin, b. Nov. 8, 1747, 
moved to Vermont, was grandfather of Hosea, 2d; 
Amey, b. June 6, 1750, d. 6 years old; Lydia, b. 
Oct. 21, 1852, m. Samuel Moses of Warwick, Feb. 
II, 1773; Maturin, b. July 8, 1755, was a Baptist 
preacher, d. at the age of 35 ; David, b. Sept. 15, 
1758; Nathan, b. Sept. 9, 1760, m. Mary Holbrook 
and moved to Vermont; Sarah, b. May 4, 1763, m. 
Moses Wheaton, Oct. 14, 1781 ; Phebe, b. May 24, 
1765, d. young; Stephen, b. in Richmond, Sept. 6, 
1768, removed to the state of New York; Hosea, 
b. in Richmond, April 30, 1871 ; m. Ruth Wash- 
burn. 

Nathan Ballon — Maturin — m. Mary Holbrook, 
dr. of Peter, Nov. 19, 1786. He remained on the 
old place with his father until about 1804, when 
he removed to Munroe, Mass., where he d. Aug. 4, 
1838, aged 78 years. Had seven children, viz. : 
Maturin, b. March 19, 1788 : Lydia, b. Jan. 29, 
1790; Polly, b. April 11, 1792; Raney, b. March 
II, 1795 ; Olive, b. March 26, 1797 ; Anna, b. April 
II, 1799; Moses, b. Aug. 18, 1800. 

David Ballon — Maturin — ist m. Mercy Harris, 
dr. of Anthony, Jan. 7, 1781 ; 2d m. Polly Gushing, 
of Putney, Vt., Feb. 6, 1791 ; 3d m. Chloe T3der, 
dr. of Moses Tyler, Esq., April 2, 1798. He settled 
near the old road leading from the Crooker place to 
David Buftum's, on L. 11, R. 7, 1787. He removed 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 281 

to Munroe, Mass., about 1800. He began preach- 
ing, 1789, at the age of 31 ; was first a Baptist, but 
afterwards a Universalist, which faith he continued 
to preach in Munroe and neighboring towns, until 
nearly the close of his life. He d. Dec. 20, 1840, 
aged 83. His wife Mercy d. April 28, 1789; PoU}^ 
d. May 11, 1797: Chloe d. about 1846. Had nine 
children, viz. : By Mercy, had Tamar, b. April 20, 
1784, m. Jonathan Frost, of Sudbury ; Levi, b. Aug. 
29, 1785 ; Silas, b. Jan. 27, 1789. By Polly had 
Leavitt, b. Sept. 20, 1792 ; David, b. Sept. 28, 1796. 
By Chloe had Chloe, b. July 23, 1799, '''^- Rev. 
Joseph Barber; Mercy H., b. Nov. 27, 1800; Moses, 
b. May 24, 1811 ; John, b. March 16, 1813. 

Hosca Ballon — Maturin — m. Ruth Washburn, of 
Williamstovvn, 1796. The following brief sketch of 
the life of Richmond's most distinguished son is taken 
from the " Life of Hosea Ballou," written by his son 
Maturin M. Ballou, of Boston : — 

Hosea Ballou was born April 30, 1771, in the town of Richmond, 
N. n., a small village situated in the county of Cheshire, in the 
southern part of the state, at that time little more than an un- 
cleared wilderness. The site of his birthplace is now a most 
attractive place in a valley scooped out from the rough hills and 
mountains of the granite state, and known as Ballou's dale, sur- 
rounded by the most romantic scenery, the beauties of which he 
used to dwell upon in after years, and to sing their praise in verse. 
The neighboring country is of a bold and rugged character, and is 
to this day but thinly settled. It was here that he first drew 
breath in an humble cottage home among the hills. At the age of 
sixteen he left the paternal roof for the first time, and made a 
journey to Guilford, Vt. ,a distance of about forty miles from Rich- 
mond. Here he visited an elder brother, and after working with 
him upon his farm through the season, returned to his father's 
house again in the fall. About one year from the time of his first 
visit to Guilford, he visited another brother, who resided in Putney, 



282 HISTORY OF THE 

Vt. , where he also labored for a season upon the farm, and in the 
fall returned to Richmond. At the age of 18, he went to Smith- 
field, R. I., where many of his relatives on the paternal side were 
settled. He remained in Smithfield but about six months, again 
returning to the place of his nativity. At the agebf 19, there being 
what was termed a reformation in the town of Richmond, Mr. 
Ballou was induced, believing it to be his duty, to become a pro- 
fessor of religion, and accordingly at that time joined the Baptist 
church of which his father was pastor, in the month of January, 
1789. He soon after attended a school at the; Friends' meeting- 
house, and there first studied grammar; afterwards went to the 
Chesterfield academy one or two terms. He commenced preaching 
Universalism when he was twenty years of age. He became a 
settled minister in the town of Dana in i794-'95, and supplied the 
societies of Oxford and Charton. When he was 30 years old, he 
was induced to accept of the invitations of the towns of Woodstock, 
Hartland, and Barnard, Vt. , making the latter place his home. 
After the expiration of six years from the time of his first settle- 
ment in Barnard, he accepted the invitation of the society of Ports- 
mouth, N. H., 1807. He removed to Salem, 1815, and from thence 
to Boston, after remaining in Salem a little more than two years, 
and became the pastor of the second Universalist society. He was 
then 45 years old. He was installed, Dec. 15, 1817, in the church 
which was built with the avowed purpose of obtaining his minis- 
terial services, and here he continued to preach to the people for 
over thirty-five years. He was the editor of the " Universalist 
Magazine" and "Universalist Expositor," and the author of 
various works on theology. He departed this life, June 7, 1852, 
aged Si years. 

Hosea Ballou always retained a strong attachment 
to the place of his nativity, which often found ex- 
expression in verse. His biographer says : — 

He was often inspired to pour out his feelings in song after visit- 
ing Richmond and the haunts of his youth, for his heart was full 
of the memories of those days that had endeared the spot to him. 

The following lines upon this subject were com- 
posed for his children to sing with instrumental 
accompaniment, and are written in the metre of one 
of his favorite songs, the air of Dumbarton's "Bonny 
Belle " : — 




XiiCtrrrnra by H.'W' Si:^ 



y^^^^^^y^t^ ^^l/^^^^>t:^L-^^< 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 283 



Bailouts Dell. 

There are no hills in Hampshire New, 

No valleys half so fair, 
As those which spread before the view 

In merry Richmond, where 
I first my mortal race began. 

And passed my youthful days ; 
Where first I saw the golden sun. 

And felt his warming rays. 

There is no spot in Richmond where 

Fond m.emory loves to dwell, 
As on the glebe outspreading there 

In Ballou's blithsome dell. 
There are no birds that sing so sweet 

As those upon the spray, 
Where, from the brovi^ of Grassy hill, 

Comes forth the morning ray. 

I'nnumbered flowers, the pride of spring. 

Are born to flourish there, 
And round them mellow odors fling 

Through all the ambient air. 
There purling springs have charms for me 

That vulgar brooks ne'er give, 
A.nd winds breathe sweeter down the lea 

Than where magnolias live ! 



The Jaynes-Ballou Family. 

yamcs Ballon, b. Dec. lo, 1723, was the son of 
James, who was the son of James, the second son of 
the first Maturin, whose pedigree runs James — James 
— James — Maturin — consequently great-grandson to 
the latter, m. June 7, 1744, Tamasin, dr. of Daniel 
Cook, of Mendon. She was b. June j6, 1725 ; 2d m. 
wid. Huldah Carpenter, June 19, 1806, probably a near 



284 HISTORY OF THE 

relative of Ozial's wife. He came from Cumberland, 
1773, being fifty years of age, and settled on the farm 
where Ozial, Esek, and Henry Ballou have since 
lived. The place previously appears to have been 
occupied by one Thos. Josslin, of whom we only know 
that he had a wife and five children. Mr. Ballou 
had a family of 11 children, all born before he came. 
He d. Jan. 21, 1812, aged 89. Tamasin d. Apr. 25, 
1804, aged 79. His children were Seth, b. Feb. 20, 
1748 ; Olive, b. May 13, 1751, m. Preserved Whipple ; 
Silas, b. Feb. 24, 1753 ; Susanna, b. June 16, 1755, m. 
Nathan Harkness ; Ozial, b. Jul}' 11, 1757 ; Tamasin, 
b. June 29, 1759, ^^* ■^^' Ebenezer Swan ; James, b. 
April 25, 1761 ; Russell, b. July 11, 1763 ; Aaron, b. 
Sept. 25, 1766 ; Daniel, b. May 26, 1768, and Priscilla, 
b. Jan. 3, 1772, m. Nathaniel Bullock, Feb. 28, 1790. 
She d. Mar. 10, 1793. She had Esther, b. Apr. 30, 
1791 ; Nathaniel, b. Feb. 23, 1793. 

Scth Ballon — James — m. widow Margaret Hil- 
ton, settled on the lot east of his father, L. 4, R. 3', 
the place recently occupied by James Ballou. He 
was in the company that marched to the defence of 
Ticonderoga in the war of the Revolution, 1777. 
He d. Sept. 15, 1778. His widow m. a Mr. Garish, 
and d. 1808. Had Seth, b. Sept. 21, 1767 ; John, b. 
March 5, 1774, m. Nov. 29, 1792, Betsey, dr. of John 
Pickering, moved to Wallingford, Vt. ; Margaret, m. 
John Benson, settled in Jackson, Penn. ; Hattie, m. 
James Dandly, and settled in Attica, N. Y. 

Silas Ballon — James — m. Hannah Hilton, April 
17, 1774. His farm was partly in Royalston, and the 
state line passed through his house. His residence 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 285 

for town purposes was conceded to be in Richmond. 
David Bullock appears to have been the first settler on 
the place, and probably built the old house which 
stood on the line. The farm recently was owned and 
occupied by widow Lucy Paine. The present build- 
ings are some rods south of the old house spot, and 
wholly in Royalston. He did service for his country 
as a privateersman in the Revolutionary war, but in 
what vessel, or from what port he sailed, does not 
appear. He was a school-teacher, and frequently 
kept a school at his house during the winter months. 
He was well versed in the common branches and in 
the higher mathematics. A knowledge of these he 
acquired without the assistance of schools or col- 
leges, being pre-eminently self-educated. He had a 
special genius for writing poetry ; was author of a 
hymn-book, also of many popular songs of the period, 
and poems on miscellaneous subjects. He died 1837, 
and was buried in a small yard beside the road on 
his farm, and no stone marks the last resting-place 
of the earthly remains of Richmond's greatest poet. 
Had seven children, viz. : Silas, b. April 5, 1777 ; 
Susanna, b. Dec. 17, 1779, m. Benjamin Mann; 
Patience, b. June 22, 1782, m. Abner Dawson, of 
Shrewsbury, Vt. ; Rebecca, b. 1784; Urania, b. 
Aug. 19, 1786, m. Ezekiel Streeter ; Silvia, b. May 
23, 1788, m. Thomas Boyce ; Olney, b. Aug. 8, 
1797. The following, entitled "Perry's Victory," 
which was written soon after that historic event, and 
was widely circulated throughout the country, and 
Hymn No. 113, selected from his hymn book, are 
fair specimens of his style of versification. He d. 
May 27, 1837 ; she d. Feb. 10, 1837 : — 



286 HISTORY OF THE 



Perry's Victory — Old Song. 

Ye tars of Columbia! give ear to my story, 

Who fought with brave Perry where cannons did roar, 
Your valor has gained you an immortal glory, 

A fame that shall last until time is no more. 
Columbian tars are the true sons of Mars, 

They rake fore and aft when they fight on the deep; 
On the bed of Lake Erie, commanded by Perry, 

They caused many a Briton to take his last sleep. 

On the tenth of September, let us all remember, 

As long as the earth on its axis rolls round. 
Our tars and marines on Lake Erie were seen 

To make the proud flag of Great Britain come down, 
The van of our fleet the British did meet. 

Commanded by Perry, the La-\vrence bore down ; 
The guns they did roar with such terrific power 

That savages trembled at the dreadful sound. 

The Lawrence sustained a most dreadful fire; 

She fought well for one or two glasses or more ; 
And Perry undaunted did firmly stand by her, 

And on the proud foe heavy broadsides did pour. 
Her masts being shattered, her rigging all tattered. 

Her booms and her yards being all shot away, 
And few men left on deck to manage the wreck, 

Our hero on board her no longer could stay. 

In this situation, the pride of our nation 

Sure heaven had guarded unhurt all the while; 
While many a hero maintaining his station, 

Fell close by his side and was thrown on the pile. 
Regardless of danger, to fear quite a stranger 

He ordered the sailors the pinnace to launch. 
With his star banner waving, of all perils now braving, 

He quitted the wreck for a vessel more staunch. 

The bold British lion now roared his last thunder. 

As Perry attacked him close in the rear; 
But Columbia's eagle soon made him crouch under. 

And roar out for quarter as soon you shall hear. 
Oh ! had you been there, I vow and declare. 

So great a fight you had ne'er seen before ; 
Six or eight bloody flags no longer could wag. 

All laid at the feet of our bold commodore. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 287 

Brave Elliot, whose valor must now be lecorded, 

On board the Niagara he well played his part, 
His gallant assistance to Perry afforded, 

We place him the second on Lake Erie's chart, 
In the midst of the battle where guns they did rattle. 

The Lawrence a wreck and her men most all slain, 
Away he did steer and brought up the rear, 

And by this manoeuvre the victory did gain. 

The battle thus ended, the victory splendid, 

Rejoiced every freeman that loves the fair land, 
To find that our seainen, tho' but sturdy freemen, 

Could cope with John Bull on the sea or the land. 
The whole British fleet was captured complete, 

Not one single vessel from us got away. 
And prisoners some hundreds, Columbians wondered 

To see them all anchored and moored in our bay. 

May heaven still smile on the shades of these heroes, 

Who fought in this conflict their country to save ; 
To check the proud spirit of the murdering Neroes 

Who wish to divide us and make us all slaves. 
Columbians smg and make the woods ring. 

And toast the brave heroes by sea and by land; 
While Britons drink sherry, Columbians Perry, 

And pass it around with a full glassin hand. 



Hymn CXIII. 

Salvation injiniic, but faith and hope jinite. 

Come, let us take a short survey-. 
And see what's from an endless day; 
Come, let us search with faithful eyes. 
And see what doth in time arise. 

Salvation was in Christ the Son, 
Before Creation was begun ; 
From endless ages it was sure, 
To endless ages will endure. 

But things that do to time pertain, 
Will pass away in tiine again ; 
All that begins in time, my friend. 
In time will surelv have an end. 



288 HISTORY OF THE 

I find that faith and unbelief, 

And sickness, sorrow, pain, and grief. 

Did not exist till time begun, 

Nor can exist when lime is done. 

Bj this I find that unbelief 
Cannot support immortal grief; 
Nor faith, nor hope, eternal peace, 
Because, when time is done, thej cease. 

When spirits leave their mortal dust. 
Then they return to God the Just, 
Where there is neither sin nor grief, 
Nor faith, nor hope, nor unbelief. 

Man hopes for that he has not got ; 
Has faith in that which he sees not; 
In what he sees there is no faith. 
Nor can he hope for that he hath. 

Our spirits soar from whence they came. 
But not in guilt and sin and shame ; 
Nothing unclean can ever bear 
Admittance or an entrance there. 

When the Redeemer's blood was spilt, 
His blood atoned for every guilt, 
In whom we all presented are 
Before the Father, clean and fair. 



Ozial Ballou — James — m. Dec. 7, 1790, Hannah 
Robinson, of Cumberland. He lived on the old 
place with his father, and after his wife's death he 
and his son Esek continued on the same place, and 
had no housekeeper during the remainder of each of 
their lives. He d. June 23, 1838 ; she d. Oct. 6, 
1818. Had five children, viz. : Ozial, b. June 6, 
1794, d. 1818; Ebenezer, b. Aug. 20, 1796; Tamma, 
b. April 19, 1799, m. Joseph Davis; Esek, b. Aug. 
23, 1808, who lived on the old place, and was un- 




(■• i 






V 4, X. 



James Ballou, Jk.'s House. See page 289. 
MRS. GARFIELD'S EARLY HOME. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 289 

married, and d. there April 29, 1858 ; James, b. 
Dec. 30, 1810, d. about 1830 ; was a school-teacher, 
and a young man of much promise. 

yaiiics Ballon, jr. — James — m. Mehitable, dr. of 
Henry Ingalls, Esq., Nov. 5, 1786. His residence 
at first was on the east side of the road, south of his 
father's. An excavation, observable in passing along 
the road, marks the spot where it stood. In one part 
of his house he occasionally kept a school, the 
scholars belonging to the families in the neighbor- 
hood. He remained here until about 1803, when he 
removed to the place now occupied by Roscoe Weeks, 
where he kept a public house and store until his 
death, Oct. 15, 1808. His family, after his decease, 
removed to Worcester, in the state of New York, 
whither had gone Henry Ingalls, Esq., Mrs. Ballou's 
father. This is the James Ballou known throughout 
the country as the grandfather of the lamented Presi- 
dent Garfield. Eliza Ballou Garfield, or, as her 
name is recorded, Elizabeth Ballou, the president's 
mother, visited the scenes of her childhood, accom- 
panied by her distinguished son, 1874. She remem- 
bered, with remarkable distinctness, many of the 
things in and around the old homestead, a photograph 
of which is herewith presented, together with the pic- 
ture of Mrs. Garfield. Had seven children, viz. : 
James, b. March 15, 1788, d. July 19, 1789; James, 
b. Oct. 15, 1794; Henry, b. Sept. 6, 1796; Hitty and 
Rufus (twins), b. March 15, 1799, Rufus d. April 
6, 1799; Elizabeth, b. Sept. 21, 1801 ; and Alpha, 
b. May 19, 1806. 

Russell Ballou — James — ist m. Henrietta Al- 
drich, of Attleboro', Feb. 23, 1783 ; 2d m. widow 
19 



290 HISTORY OF THE 

Bebe Mellen, of Swansey. He lived first where 
Dennis Harkness now does ; thence removed to 
Royalston, on the farm now owned by Silas Whipple, 
and built the house now standing on the premises. 
After the death of his first wife he removed to Swan- 
sey, and lived on the Mellen's place until his death, 
Nov. 10, 1847, aged 84. His wife Henrietta d. June 
8, 1827, aged 67 ; his wife Bebe d. 1854. Had by 
Henrietta eight children, viz. : Betsey, b. Oct. 6, 
1783, m. Royal Blanding ; Amey, b. Oct. 27, 1785; 
Nicene, b. March 6, 1788, m. Abel Bliss ; Asquire, 
b. May 8, 1792 ; Russell, b. 1794, moved to Daritur, 
N. Y. ; Luther, b. Sept. 7, 1797 ; Priscilla, b. Jan. 
25, 1800, d. May 8, 1814; and Olive, b. Aug. 29, 
1803, m. Jacob Boyce. His children were probably 
all born in Richmond. 

Aaron Ballon — James — m., Sept. 8, 1786, Cath- 
erine, dr. of Thomas Bowen. First lived on the 
Silas Gaskill or Ebenezer Ballon farm, and after- 
wards on a place north-east of Reuben Bowen's, 
and from thence he removed to Lisbon, N. H., 1801. 
Had eight children, viz. : Olive, b. June 19, 1787 ; 
Esther, b. Dec. 22, 1788; Mary, b. Sept. 30, 1791 ; 
Otis, b. Aug. 25, 1793; Aaron, b. May 10, 1795; 
Ira, b. Feb. 9, 1797 ; Catherine, b. March 20, 1799; 
Lovicea, b. April 19, 1801. He d. 1807. She 2d 
m. Henry Gale ; 3d m. John Bley, of L^'ndon. 

Daniel Balloii — James — m., April 8, 1787, Mar^^ 
Hix. His place was near Mrs. Aaron Mellen's. 
Had four children, viz. : Mary, b. May 3, 1791 ; 
Royal, b. Aug. 7, 1792; Daniel, b. Feb. 11,, 1795; 
Dennis, b. Dec. 16, 1797. He d. in Truxton, Cort- 
land Co., N. Y., Dec, 1806. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 29I 

Seth Ballon, jr. — Seth — James — m., Feb. i, 
1789, Sarah, dr. of Henry Aldrich. He occupied his 
father's place. Had Seth, b. Feb. 1790, m. Mercey 
Levett, of Livermore, Me., he d. there; Sally, b. 
Nov. 29, 1791, m. Olney Ballou ; Lovina, b. April 
27, 1794, m. Nathaniel Bullock, jr., Nov. 10, 1815, 
she d. May i, 1836; Henry, b. 1797; Amasa, m. 
Dilla, dr. of Benjamin Man, by whom he had dr. El- 
vira, he left her and went to Ohio ; Abner, m. Brit- 
tania, dr. of Reuben Bowen, he went to Me., and 
finally left his wife and went to N. Y. ; James, b. 
April 24, 1804; Betsey, m. Orison Curtis; John, 
lives in Cleveland, Ohio. He d. Nov. 23, 1820; 
she d. June 3, 1853. 

Henry Ballon — Seth — Seth — James — m. Sibyl 
Briggs. He lived first on the Aaron Mellen place, 
1845 removed to the old Jona. Sweet place, where he 
d. 1855, ^ged 57. Shed. Mar. 8, 1876. He was a 
blacksmith, and had a shop at both places. Had ten 
children, viz, Henry, b. July 12, 1818 ; Lysander, b. 
Sept. 10, 1820; Sibyl, b. June 6, 1822, m. James A. 
Mellen ; Lavona, b. Jan. 14, 1823, m. Amasa Ballou, 
d. 1844; Hosea, b. July 5, 1825, m. Lurinda Ballou, 
dr. of Silas 3d, was in the U. S. Army, 1865, and 
has not been heard from since ; Joel, b. Aug. 25, 1827, 
lives in Peterboro' ; Emeline, b. Dec. 28, 1829, m. 
Barton Grant, d. 1861 ; Betsey, b. Feb. 2, 1832 ; Al- 
mira, b. July 10, 1835, m. Anderson Aldrich: Mi- 
randa, b. Sept. 10, 1837, d. 1847. 

Henry Ballou, jr. — Henry — Seth — Seth — James 
— m., July 4, 1841, Alsaida, dr. of Silas Ballou 3d, son 
of Jesse. Has the old farm, successively occupied 



•292 HISTORY OF THK 

by James, Ozial, and Esek. Had Alden F., b.Jiily 
I, 1842, d. in the late war, Sept. 2,1863 ; Lysander, 
b. March 29, 1845, d. Oct. 31, 1862 ; Charles L. b. 
Nov. 27, 1847, d. July 2,1878; Henry D., b. March 
23, 1850, d. April II, 1851 ; Fred. L., b. March 23, 
1851, d. Oct. 8, 1857 ; Emma A., b. April 19, 1853 ; 
Herbert L., b. Aug. 25, 1858 ; Arthur P., b. Feb. 16, 
1862. 

Lysander Ballon — Henry — Seth — Seth — James 
— is unmarried, lives on the Samuel Sprague place 
with his sister Betsey. His mother was with him 
until her death in 1876. 

yauies Ballon — Seth — Seth — James — m. Polly 
Handy, dr. of George. He remained on the home- 
stead of his father, and had nine children, viz., Emily 
E., b. June 20, 1829, m. B. F. Barton ; Harriet A., b. 
Dec. 4, 1830, m. Dr. I. W. Russell ; Lavina, b. Feb. 
25, 1832, m. Henry Holden ; Elvira A., b. May 12, 
1834, d. Oct. ^2, 1836; S.Jane, b. June 17, 1836, m. 
Chas. Parker, d. Jan. 6, 1862 ; Loansa, b. Nov. 8, 
1839, "^ Marcus Howard ; James Monroe, b. Sept. 
24, 1841 ; John Madison, b. July 24, 1843 ; x\letia A. b. 
Sept. 20, 1846, m. Chas. Safford, and d. Jan. 12, 
1884; Millard Fillmore, b. April 15, 1849. He d. 
April 4, 1872, aged 68. 

Silas Ballou, J?-. — Silas — James — m. Elizabeth, 
dr. of Samuel Curtis, sr., Jan. 1795, lived at various 
places in town. Had Israel, b, 1797, left home at 
age 21, and never returned ; Silas, b. 1799, m. Desire 
Carr, lived in Blackstone, Mass., d. 1881 ; Hannah, 
b. 1800, m. Smith Bates, settled in Ellisburg, N. 
Y., had seven children, d. 1835 '■> Martha, b. 1802, m. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 293 

Phineas Streeter, 1829, had one son, lives in Hartford, 
she d. 1872 ; Olive, b. 1804, m. Daniel Boorn, 1822, 
had eleven children, moved to Iowa, d. 1872 ; Sam- 
uel, b. 1808, d. 1825 ; Patience, b. May 21, 1810, m. 
Hollis Whipple, 1830, has three children; Noah, b. 
Jan. 10, 1813, m. Miss Carr, had two children, he 
lost wife and children and then went to sea and never 
returned; Aurella, b. Dec. 23, 1815, m. Ichabod 
Whipple 3d, 1833, had five children ; Rhoda, b. Aug. 
12, 1818, m. S. S. Joy, 1840, had Sarah E., who m. 
Henry K. White, 1874. ^'^^ lives near Boston. 

OIncy Ballon — Silas — James — m. Sally, dr. of 
Seth Ballou 3d, Jan. 27, 1820. He lived on the old 
place until after his father's decease, when he removed 
to Vt., and again went to Newfield, N. Y. Had two 
children, viz. : Flora, b. Oct. 21, 1822, m. Moses 
Gore, Ma}^ 21, 1843; Harvey, b. Dec. 13, 1823, m. 
Melinda J. Coates, May 24, 1846. They live in New- 
field, Tompkins Co., N. Y. 

Ebenezcr Ballon — Ozial — James — m. Dec. 3 1 , 
1815, Mary, dr. of John Boyce. He had the farm 
next north of his father, the Silas Gaskill place. Had 
four children, viz. : Roxie, b. 1816, d. 1823 ; Olive, 
b. June 10, 1818, m. Moses Nichols, jr. ; Ozial and 
Ebenezer, twins, b. June 25, 1820, Ozial remains in 
town, Ebenezer lives in Gardner, Mass. He d. 1821 ; 
she lives with her dr. Olive in Florida, Vt. 

Ozial Ballon — Ebenezer — Ozial — James — ist 
m., April 2, 1842, Emily, dr. of Silas Ballou 3d, son of 
Jesse; 2d m. Lorinda, sister of Emily. He lives on 
the Anthony Corey farm, or the place first settled by 



294 HISTORY OF THE 

James \\'estcoat. Has nine children, by Emily six, 
viz. : Henry, b. Ma}^ 27, 1842 ; Emily J., b. Feb. 13, 
1844 ; Mar}^ A., b. June 3, 1846 ; Sarah L., b. Aug. 26, 
1848 ; Ozial A., b. June 21, 1851, d. May 14, 1883 ; 
John F., b. July 28, 1853. By Lorinda : Willie J., b. 
Oct. II, 1856 ; Eugene W., b. June 28, 1858 ; George 
M., b. Sept. 27, i860. 

James M. Ballou — James — Seth — Seth — James 

— ist m. Sarah Jane, dr. of Wheaton Jillson, 2d m., 
1875, Harriet L. Ripley, of Swansey. He lives in 
East Swansey. Had three children by Sarah Jane, 
Aimer J., Mary E., d. : Lizzie O., d. 

yohn M. Ballon — James — Seth — Seth — James 

— m. Lucinda Botting, lives in Fitchburg., 

John F. Ballon — Ozial — Ebenezer — Ozial — 
James — m., March 2, 1874. Jennie, dr. of Luke 
Ellor. He owns the Martin Cass larm. 

Willie y. Ballon — Ozial — Ebenezer — Ozial — 
James — m. June 24, 1880, Amie, dr. of Otis Whip- 
ple 3d. Lives in Winchester. 

LiUhcr Ballon — Russell — James — m., Dec. 3, 
1818, Clarissa, dr. of Joseph Davis, of Royalston. 
She w^as b. March 11, 1797. Lived on the place be- 
fore occupied by his father and now owned b}^ Silas 
Whipple, in Royalston. Had twelve children, viz. : 
Sophia, b. Sept. 22, 1819, m. Francis Morandi ; 
Emeranca, b. Sept. 10, 1821 ; Almando, b. Ma}^ 2, 
1823, m. Mahala Harkness, and lives in Philadelphia : 
Angela, b. Dec. 16, 1824: Devillo, b.Jan. 17, 1827; 
Lorenzo, b. Nov. 29, 1828 ; Autantia, b. June 24, 
1830; Clarinda, b. April 29, 1832; Lorina, b. Feb. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 295 

24, 1834; Alfonso, b. March 9, 1836; Czarina, b. 
May 15, 1838 ; Waldo, b. Feb. 13, 1845. He d. Jan. 
21, 1871 ; she d. Aug. 26, 1866. 

Asquire Ballou — Russell — James — m., May 29, 
1816, Arethusa Maynard. Lived north of the Whip- 
ple place, near Tully. Had a grist-mill. Moved to 
Royalston, 1840. Had Priscilla, Amy, Alonzo, m. 
Sarah Mellen, had eleven children, d. ; Asquire, m. 
Forbes, d. ; Westley, d. ; Frank, Louisa, m. Grimes, 
lives in Keene. He d. 1858. 

Almando Ballou — Luther — Russell — James — 
m., Jan. i. 1852, Mahala, dr. of Elijah Harkness. 
Was owner, together with Addison Paine, of the mills 
built by Dennis Harkness. Removed to Boston, and 
from there to Philadelphia, and is now in the express 
business in that city. Has three children. 

De Forest Ballou, son of Almando, studied law in 
Philadelphia, and is now practicing there with good 
prospects of success. 

The ycssc-Ballou Family. 

yesse Ballou, b. Feb. 20, 1756, son of Eleazer Bal- 
lou, of Gloucester, R. L, m. Amphyllis Smith, of 
Gloucester. This Eleazer was the son of Samuel, 
who was a son of James, the second son of the first 
Maturin, hence Jesse was great-great-grandson of the 
first Maturin of Providence. Came to town 1779. 
Settled on the Holiab Smith place, L. 16, 17, and 18 
in the first range. By his first wife had Henrietta, 
David, Jesse, and Susanna; 2d m. March 5, 1786, 
Rose Swift, dr. of Samuel Swift. By her had Sylvia, 



296 HISTORY OF THE 

b. June 20, 1786 ; Silas, b. Dec. 10, 1787 ; Esther, m. 
Wm. Chase; Jirah, m. Sylvia Phillips; Aaron, b. 
May 25, 1795 ; Barnabas, Lucincla, b. 1799, rn. Jesse 
Bishop ; Phebe, m. Nathaniel Whitcomb. Amphyllis 
d. March 26, 1785 ; he d. 1820. 

Silas Ballou — Jesse — istm., Feb. 8, 1810, Anna 
Saunders, who was b. May 23, 1790: 2dm. widow 
Coombs, who d. 1883. He occupied the homestead 
until he removed to Swansey, 1842. Had Leonard, 
b. Feb. I, 1811 ; Laura Ann, b. Aug. 23, 1812, m. 
Ansel Boorn, d. 1872; Willard, b. Oct. 25, 1815 ; 
Elisha, b. May 28, 1817, d. April 3, 1820 ; Amasa, b. 
Jan. I, 1819 ; Alsaida, b. July 28, 1820, m. Henry 
Ballou, jr. ; Emily, b. March 12, i822,m.Ozial Ballou, 
d. Nov. 20, 1852 ; Lorinda, b. Dec. 9, 1823, m. Ozial 
Ballou; Silas, b. Nov. 5, 1825, d. Sept. 16, 1872; 
Asa, b. Feb. 4, 1829; William, b. April 9, 1832, d. 
Sept. 1833. 

Aaron Ballou — Jesse — m. Dec. 31, 1819, Mary, 
dr. of Nathan Bowen, sr. Had part of his father's 
farm, on which he built a house south of the old 
homestead. Had Russell, b. July 21, 1820, d. Sept. 
29, 1839 ' Lorenzo, b. Dec. 7, 1821 ; Seth D., b. Sept. 
I, 1822 ; Alonzo, b. Dec. 17, 1825 ; Hannah, b. April 
5, 1828, m. Sumner Starkey, she d. June 2, 1847; 
Aaron, b. Feb. 17, 1831, d. Oct. 14, 1833 ; William 
W., b. June 15, 1833, m. Mary Williams : M. Lovina, 
b. Aug. 2, 1837, m. Simeon Holbrook. He d. Sept. 
7, 1861, aged 66 ; she d. March 7, 1865, aged 68. 

Barnabas Ballon — Jesse — m., Sept. 12, 1816, 
Rachel, dr. of Nathan Bowen. Lived a few years in a 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. . 297 

house built on his father's farm, and moved to the 
Butternuts about 1825. 

Leonard Ballon — Silas — Jesse — ist m. Gratis, 
dr. of Silas Boyce ; 2d m. widow Sarah D. Taylor, 
May 20, 1873. Soon after his first marriage he re- 
moved to Vt., but returned about 1870, and died in 
Richmond Feb. 21, 1880, aged 69. Had by Gratis: 
George, Edwin, Joseph, Leonard, and John. 

Willard Ballon — Silas — Jesse — m. March 31, 
1840, Abigail Forestall. Removed to Swansey, 1857. 
Had Irving W., b. July i, 1841, m. Eda Fuller ; Jo- 
seph W., b. Dec. 18, 1842, m. Flavilla M. Taft ; 
Frank E., b. Jan. 26, 1844, m. Julia A. Jerome ; Lu- 
nette ^L, b. May 17, 1852, m. George Stone. 

Amasa Ballon — Silas — Jesse — m. July 4, 1841, 
Lovina, dr. of Henry Ballon. She d. Dec. 13, 1844, 
aged 22. Had Albert and Eden Sawyer; 2d m. 
widow Brooks, dr. of Jesse Forestall, and by her had 
two or three children. She d., and he 3d m. widow 
Hammond, and by her had Eleanor and Isabella, and 
three or four d. young. 

Scth D. Ballon — Aaron — Jesse — ist m., June 
29, 1846, Cynthia L., dr. of x\nthony Corey. She 
d. Jan. 7, 1852 ; 2d m. widow Rebecca Boyce, dr. 
of Thomas Boyce, May 25. 1852. Removed to 
Jaffrey, N. H., April 13, 1847. Had Clarissa, b. Jan. 
II, 185 1, m. Edwin E. Bryant, Aug. 23, 1868 ; Harvey 
E., b. Jan. 7, 1852, d. Sept. 10, 1865. 

Lorenzo Ballon — Aaron — Jesse — m. Italy V. 
Ballon. He removed to Swansey about 1845. Had 
Truman, Emma, and Milo, and others d. young. 



298 HISTORY OF THE 

Alonzo Ballou — Aaron — Jesse — m. Angela, dr. 
of Daniel Cass. Was a shoemaker ; worked at the 
Four corners. About 1852 moved to 111. ; now re- 
sides in Iowa. Had two or three children. 



The yarcd-Ballou Family. 

'Jared Ballou m. Hannah Latham, Jan. 21, 1781. 
He came from Smithfield. He bought and lived on 
the Timoth}^ Robinson place, L. 2, R. 10. Had 
Lydia, b. Jan. 24,1783, m. Townsend Parker; Sarah, 
m. Levi Cheney, of Orange ; Amy, m. John Boyce, 
d. June II, 1872 ; Benoni, b. 1793 ; Elisha, b. 1800, 
d. 1867; Phebe, d. young; Lucy, d. Dec. 8, 1881, 
75 years of age. 

Benoni Ballou — Jared — m. Sarah, dr. of William 
Buffum, Jan. 9, 1820. He d. Oct. 9, 1852, aged 59. 
He lived where his widow now resides. Had two 
children, viz. : Phianda M., b. Oct. i, 1820, m. Alan- 
son Pickering; WillardJ., b. Feb. 16, 1833. 

Elisha Ballou — Jared — was never m. Lived 
with his mother and sister. He d. at age 67. 

In body weak, in mind the same, 
For all of this he was not to blame ; 
Quite well he did as he was made, 
When no filling in the warp was laid. 

Willard y. Ballou — Benoni — Jared — m., Sept. 
14, 1856, Lucy, dr. of Levi Wheeler. Lived in the 
house with his mother; d. Jan. 13, 1879, ^g^d 45 
years. Had one child, Willie, d. in infancy. 



I 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 299 

BARBER. 

Ebenczcr Barber, from Worcester, m. Betsey Alex- 
ander ; lived on the Elisha Brigham place, now oc- 
cupied by Henr}'^ Amadon, and removed to the 
Ichabod Whipple farm, L. 2, R. 11, where he d. May 
28, 1865, aged 82, and his wife d. Oct. 10, 1876, aged 
89. Had four daughters. 

Joel C. Barber, son of Ebenezer by his first wife, 
came to town in 1846, and lived at various places in 
town ; d. about 1840. 

BARDEN. 

Abncr Bar den, b. in Stoddard, N. H., Dec. 11, 
1796, m. Nanc}', dr. of Dr. Ebenezer Swan, June 4, 
1823. He moved into Richmond, 1845, and bought 
soon after the Bisbee farm, where he continued to 
reside the remainder of his days. Was a hatter by 
trade, and lived in Winchester a while. He d. Aug. 
2, 1882, aged 86; she d. March 26, 1876, aged 81. 
Had Nancy H. M., b. June 2, 1824; Mary P., b. 
Sept. 14, 1826; Clara M., b. Nov. 22, 1828; Abner 
S., b. Oct. 19, 1831 ; Augusta M., h- Jan. 16, 1834, 
m. Wright Wood, and lives in Ashuelot. 

Abner S. Barden — Abner — m., Jan. 30, 1865, 
Mary E. Bigelow, of Fitzwilliam, who was b. Aug. 
30, 1836; lives on the Bisbee place. Had Hattie E., 
b. Dec. 6, 1856, m. Silas O. Martin; Charles A., b. 
Sept. 17, 1859; Mary I., b. July 21, 1862. 

BARKER. 

Xatlian D. Barker, of Marlboro', m. widow 
Hastings, and lived on the Bump place two years. 



300 HISTORY OF THE 

and on the Benjan^in Man place five years, about 
1837. Had Thomas, Lorenzo, and three or four other 
children. 

BARRUS. 

Abi-aham Bamis, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth 
Barrus, of Attleboro', b. Feb. 11, 1714 ; removed from 
Cumberland to Richmond, 1765, and was f. s. on L. 4, 
R. II, and built and lived in the house recently occu- 
pied by John Barrus, whose son Alonzo took down the 
same and removed it in 1882. Had nine children, all 
born in Cumberland, viz.: John, b. May 22, 1740; 
Abraham, b. Nov. 2, 1742 ; Oliver, b. Feb. 27, 1744 ; 
Sarah, b. Aug. 11, 1747; Jonathan, b. March 15, 
1750; Nathan, b. Nov. 29, 1753; Jeremiah, b. Oct. 
17, 1756; Ebenezer, b. Feb. 16,1759; Mary, b. Oct. 

19, 1761. He d. 1789. 

Oliver Bari'jis — Abraham — m., Nov. i, 1774, 
Mary, dr. of Thomas Wooley. He settled on L. 2, 
R. 9, the place recently occupied by his son Oliver. 
The buildings are now gone. Had eight children, 
viz.: Desier, b. April 6, 1776: Jonathan, b. April 
29, 1778; Polly, b. Feb. 22, 1780-, Oliver, b. May 

20, 1782 : Calvin, b. May 26, 1784, m. Orpha 
Wooley; Candace, b. May 11, 1786, m. Reuben 
Martin; Caroline, b. April 14, 1788; Hannah, b. 
Jan. 30, 1791, m. Miller. He d. Jan. 9, 1820, aged 
76; she d. May 3, 1824, aged 71. 

yohn Barrus — Abraham — m. Hannah, and 
settled on the place now owned by Medad Evans. 
He d. 1794- Had Timothy, Ira, Pegge, Julianna, 
and Roxanna. The family removed to Fairfield, 
N. Y. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 3OI 

ycrcmiah Barrus — x\braham — m., Dec. 4, 1783, 
Prudence Shafter ; lived on the place recently owned 
and occupied by his son Alvan, L. 3, R. 10; was a 
soldier in the war of the Revolution ; was in the 
battles of Bunker Hill, Bennington, Princeton, and 
Trenton; drew a pension. Had five children, viz.: 
Mellen, b. Feb. 29, 1786 ; Abigail, m. Otis Blanding ; 
Prudence, m. Otis Allen, of Warwick ; Jeremiah, b. 
1800; Alvan, b. 1807. He d. Oct. 25, 1850, aged 
94 ; she d. March 20, 1835, aged 71. 

Ebenezcr Barrus — Abraham — m. Rebecca Thresh- 
ire. • He lived near the burying-ground, on the 
place since occupied by his son Ira. Had five chil- 
dren, viz. : John, b. 1780; Barnabas, b. 1782; Ira, 
Sept. 28, 1800 ; Ebenezer, d. young ; Lucinda, d. 
young. No record of family. 

Abraham Barrus, jr. — Abraham — ist m. Eliza- 
beth ; 2d m. widow Mary Martin, Nov. i, 1774. Had 
by Elizabeth, Sarah and Abel ; and by Mary, Abra- 
ham and Elizabeth. Removed to the state of New 
York. 

Oliver Barrus, jr. — Oliver — x\braham — m. Han 
nah. dr. of Aaron Kelton. He lived on his father's 
farm, the place south of Curtis Parker's. He finally 
went to the state of New York, and lived with his 
daughter Rachel, his only child, and there died. 
Hannah d. March i, 1848, aged 64. 

'Jonathan Barrus — Oliver — Abraham — was 
never married. He lived at Moses Tyler's and other 
places. He believed in predestination and other 
fatalistic ideas. He d. Jan. 6, 1S57. 



302 HISTORY OF THE 

The world ofttimes was dark and drear. 
Then bright again 't would soon appear; 
'T was gloom indeed for all the race, 
The elect except, of special grace; 
Hither and thither pushed about, 
Wandering in a maze of doubt, 
He felt that Fate was God's decree, 
But how 't was right he cid n't see. 

Mellen Bar7-iis — Jeremiah — Abraham — m., 
Aug. 12, 1810, Lucy, dr. of Ichabod Whipple, jr. 
Had Lovina, Harrison, and Elhanan. He removed 
to McDonough, N. Y., about 1815, and lived to be 
about 90. 

yeremiah Barms — Jeremiah — Abraham — m. , 
Oct. 3, 1824, Francis Kingman. He lived on the 
place formerly ' owned by Amos Garnsey. Had 
thirteen children, viz. : Adaline F., b. Dec. 3, 1824; 
Eltheda, b. July 30, 1826, d. Sept- 16, 1827 ; Lucius 
A., b. Sept. 12, 1827 ; Eltheda M., b. July 28, 1829 ; 
Lorenzo H., b. Oct. 19, 1831 ; Almenzo W., b. May 
30, 1834, ^' Dec. 13, 1858; Mary Jane, b. June 14, 
1836; Minerva J., b. June 25, 1838, d. Dec. 12, 
1846; Abby R., b. June 27, 1840; Benjamin F., b. 
Aug. 10, 1842, d. in the late war; George A., b. 
April 6, 1845, d. in the late war; Alfred E., b. April 
20, 1848; Edgar L., b. Sept. 25, 1849. Had live 
sons in the late war. His wife d. Nov. 27, 1870, 
aged 65. 

A/van Baj'rus — Jeremiah — Abraham — ist m. , 
1833, Eliza, dr. of Samuel Curtis. He lived on his 
father's place. Had by Eliza: Prudence M., b. 
March 9, 1835, "i- Alva Burdick ; Eliza M., b. Aug. 
15, 1836; Louisa N., b. Jan. 14, 1838, m. M. Bur- 
dick; Juliette A. E., b. Feb. 3, 1839, "^- Norman 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 3O3 

Moors ; Alvan, d. young. 2d m. Emily, dr. of 
Thomas Goddard, June, 1844. By Emily had : Otis 
A., b. May 10, 1845, d. in the late war; Alvan S., 
b. Dec. 4, 1846; Lydia O., b. Oct. 27, 1848, m. 
Frank Amadou ; Louis K., b. March 7, 1851 ; Elmer 
L., b. Aug. 14, 1853 ; Charles F.,b. Sept. 10, 1855 ; 
Harvey M., b. May 9, 1858, d. July 10, 1883. He 
held the office of selectman four years. He d. Feb. 
9, 1875, aijed 68. Eliza, his wife, d. June 5, 1843. 

yohn Barms — Ebenezer — Abraham — m. Jan. 
7, 1816, Abigail Kingman, of Winchester. Lived on 
the place settled by his grandfather, Abraham Barrus. 
Had Benjamin K., b. Sept. 23, 1817, m. Amanda 
Jewell, and lived in Charlestown, Mass., d. Jan. 18, 
1855 ; Alonzo, b. March 16, 1819, m. Emily A. Bass, 
lives in Warwick; Rhoda K., b. Jan. 24, 1823, d. 
Sept. 3, 1865, unmarried; Betsey, b. Nov. 19, 1825, 
m. Capt. Amos Buftum, d. 1875 ; Lavina M., b. June 
II, 1828, m. Curtis E. Parker. He d. Aug. 26, 1865, 
aged 85 ; she d. Feb. 21, 1863, aged 74. 

Barnabas Barrus -- Ebenezer — Abraham — m. 
Elizabeth, dr. of Thomas Kelton, of Warwick. Lived 
where his uncle John settled, and now owned by Me- 
dad Evans. No record of family ; but a head-stone in 
the cemetery bears the inscription, " Barnabas Bar- 
rus 2d, d. Feb. 23, 1812, aged 37"; whose son he was 
we know not. He d. March 20, 1877, aged 95 ; she 
d. Sept. 5, 1859, aged 83. 

Ira Barrus — Ebenezer — Abraham — m. April 8, 
1832, Lucena T. Aldrich, dr. of Huldah Aldrich, b. 
April 3, 1815. Lived where his father did. Had 



304 HISTORY OF THE 

Ebenezer P., b. June 20, 1833; William J., b. May 
I, 1835; Ira Marshall, b. March 26, 1837; John 
W., b. Oct. 26, 1840 ; Samuel A. R., b. Oct. 25, 1845 ; 
Frederick A., b. Feb. 8, 1847 ; Charles J., b. March 
20, 1849; Henry W., b. No^. 19, 1851 ; Mary E., b. 
May 30, 1853. He d. July 12, 1865 ; she m. a Mr. 
Smith of Winchester, 1871, and d. June 8, 1871, by 
being thrown from a wagon. Ira Marshall d. in 
Orange, July 30, 1868; Frederick A. d. March 17, 
1864; Charles J. d. Oct., 1864. 

Ebenezer Barrus, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth, 
of Attleboro', Mass., and a brother of Abraham, from 
Cumberland, b. Oct. 19, 1712, m. Experience Orms- 
by, who was b. May 22, 1731. He settled, with his 
son Michael, on the Edward Ainsworth farm in 1772. 
Had Michael, b. July 13, 1751, and Elizabeth, m. 
Josiah Rawson, of Warwick, and others that remained 
in Cumberland. He d. June 16, 1807; she d.June, 
1822. 

Capt. Michael Barrus — Ebenezer — cousin of 
Abraham Barrus, m. Elizabeth Simonds, b. July 13, 
i756,of Warwick, Feb. 16, 1774. He came from Cum- 
berland, 1772, with his father, and bought Edward 
Ainsworth's farm, L. 2, R. 12, the place now owned by 
Asahel Kelton. The house now on the premises was 
raised on the day of the battle of Bennington, Aug. 
16, 1777. He d. Nov. 26, 1834, ^g*^d83 ; she d. Dec. 
7, 1845. Had eight children, viz. : Ebenezer, b. 
Aug. 21, 1774; Tirzah, b. Nov. 14, 1776, m. Nathan 
Cass ; Michael, b. Sept. 12, 1779 ; Sarah, b. Nov. 25, 
1781 ; Benjamin, b. April 3, 1783 ; Sibbel, b. Jan. 27, 
1785, m. Nahum Grout; Samuel, b. May 23, 1790; 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 305 

William, b. June 5, 1793, went west; and Hannah, 
d. young. 

Ehcnczcr Barms — Michael — Ebenezer — m. Ra- 
chel Holman, dr. of Elisha Holman, of Winchester. 
Lived in a house on part of his father's farm. Had 
Almina, b. Dec. 25, 1800, m. Henry Ball, of War- 
wick ; Holnian, b. Feb., 1807 ; Ebenezer, b. Oct. i, 
181 1 ; three died young, viz. : Experience, Michael, 
and an infant. He d. Feb. 23, 1812; his widow m. 
Simeon Cook, and d. 1838. 

Michael Barms, Jr. — Michael — Ebenezer — m. 
Abigail Foster, of Royalston. Lived in a house on the 
road leading to Aaron Kelton's, before occupied by 
Barnabas Thrasher. Had two children, viz. : Jeru- 
sha, b. March 15, 1802, m. Enos Holbrook, jr. ; she 
d. Jan. 12, 1878, and Betsey, b. April 17, 1803, m. 
Asahel Kelton. He d. July 10, 1803. 

Samuel Barrus — Michael — Ebenezer — m. April 
4, 1810, Silence Holman, of Winchester. Lived in 
the house with his father at tirst, afterwards moved to 
Flower Hill, Warwick. Had Elvira, b. July 2, 181 1, 
m. John S. Sweeny, of Grafton, Mass. ; Alfonzo,b. 
July 9, 1813 ; Hosea, b. Jan. 5, 1816 ; Harrison, b. 
June 9, 1818 ; Lemira, b. Feb. 24, 1821, m. Elisha S. 
Livermore, d. March 29, 1844. He d. Feb. 24, 
1872, age 81. 

Holman Barms — Ebenezer — Michael — Eben- 
ezer — m. Lucretia, dr. of Nathaniel Whipple. He 
lived on the Rufus Whipple farm a few years, and 
from thence moved to Windhall, Vt. Had Fostina, 
m. Williams ; Moses R., Helen, m. Fuller ; Lavina, m. 
a Mr. Holden, and an infant dr. d. 



3o6 HISTORY OF THE 

Ehcnczcr Barrus, jr. — Ebenezer — Michael — 
Ebenezer — ist m. Polly, dr. of Jacob Sweet; 2d m. 
Betsey, sister of Polly. Lived in Winchester ; was a 
millwright, and owned the mills near the Centre vil- 
lage. Had by Polly: Marion, Benjamin F.,Ozro I., d. 
in infancy. By Betsey had Elmina, Serefina, Elsina, 
Rosetta, Lizzie, Jennie, and Ebenezer, and three d. 
young." He d. Jan. lo, 1863, age 62 ; Polly d. Feb. 
25, 1845, aged 29 ; Betsey, his widow, lives in Keene. 

Alfonzo Barms — Samuel — Michael — m. Sarah 
H. Wilson, March 29, 1835. Lived in Spencer. 
Now dead. 

Hosca Barms — Samuel — Michael — m. Caroline 
Newton, July 4, 1836. Now dead. 

Harrison Barms — Samuel — Michael — m. Sarah 
M. Miles. Lived in Fitzwilliam. He d. Aug. 17, 
1861. 

BARNEY. 

Constant Barney, from Rehoboth, m. Dec. 13, 
1753, Hannah Carpenter. Was one of the fir-st set- 
tlers in town. The place he settled on has generally 
been known as the David Holbrook farm. He sold 
to Jonas Twitchell, and bought of Oliver Mason, 1772, 
L. 10, R. 6, the place where William and Esek Buf- 
fum have since lived. He removed from town about 
1785. He was out twice in the Revolutionary war. 
Was active in town affairs. Had ten children, one 
of whom, Jeffrey Amherst, was out in the service, 
and was married, Feb. 4, 1781, to Filie Aldrich, dr. 
of Capt. Abner. 



TOWN OF ItlCHMOND. 307 

David Barney, who was a brother of Constant, set- 
tled very early west of Constant, on L. 15, R. ii, on a 
road which ran from the Dea. Amos Garnsey place 
easterly to the road near John Bennett's or Daniel 
Reed's, who owned the premises at the time. Was 
representative of the town to the General Assembly 
at Exeter in 1778, and delegate to the convention 
that framed the constitution of N. H., 1782. Had 
eleven children, one of whom, William, was married 
in town. He removed from town prior to 1789. 

Joseph Banicy, probably a younger brother of 
aforenamed, appears to have lived near David. Had 
seven children. He removed about 1790- 

BARRETT. 

yaazaniah Barrett, from Uxbridge, about 1787, 
bought the Israel Phillips place, L. 6, R. 3, and in 
1793 he bought of Daniel Cass his farm, L. 7, R. 6, 
the place where Jonas Wheeler now lives. He had 
a store in the old house ; also had a potash and black- 
smith shop, which made this a business centre at the 
time. He removed about 1803 to Danby, Vt. Had 
eight children. 

BASSETT. 

William Basse tt, b. Oct. 29, 1747, was the son of 
Joseph ^assett, b. in Lynn, Mass., 1715, and a de- 
scendant of William Bassett, who came to Lynn 
about 1640; 1st m. Margery White, b. Oct. 16, 1754, 
and first lived in Uxbridge, and carried on the tan- 
ning and currying business. He sold to Royal 
Southwick, and removed to Richmond, 1794; bought 



3o8 historV of the 

of Joseph Wing the farm first settled by Jacob Bump, 
and now owned by George B. Handy; 2dm., Jan. 
I, 1795, Ruth, who was b. Sept. 15, 1754, ^^- of 
Adam Harkness, of Smithlield. He d. Jan. 9, 1841, 
aged 93 ; Margery d. Aug. 18, 1791 ; Ruth d. Nov. 
18, 1836. Had by Margery seven children, viz. : 
Cyrus, b. March 31, 1779, m. Anna, dr. of Seth 
Shearman, lived in Royalston, he d. 1831 ; Lydia, b. 
Aug. 31, 1780, m. Nathan Shearman; Artemas, b. 
June 19, 1782; Daniel, b. Dec. 19, 1784; Ellis, b. 
July 2, 1787, m. Tyler Paine, and lived in Smith- 
field; Martha, b. July 6, 1789, m. Elijah Harkness; 
William, b. Aug. 13, 1791, d. March 14, 1792. 

Artemas Basscti — William — m. Sarah, dr. of 
Nathan Harkness, March 28, 1805 ; lived in the north 
part of the town, on the place afterwards owned by 
William Woodward, and more recently by Zadoc 
Taft ; thence removed to Starksboro', Vt., 1823, and 
from there went to Adrian, Mich., 1835. Had seven 
children, viz. : William, b. Dec. 23, 1805, d. Oct. 
16, 1835; Margery, b. Oct. 24,1807: Susan, b. Jan. 
4, 1810; Nathan H., b. March 3, 1812 : Ruth, b. 
April 23, 1815 ; Sarah, b. Oct. 28, 1818 ; and David 
R., b. Sept. 20, 1822. He d. 1855, aged 73; she 
d. July 7, 1863, aged 84. 

Daniel Bassett — William — m. Susanna, dr. of 
Nathan Harkness, 1810. He removed to the Gideon 
Man farm, at the Four corners, 1817, and built a 
tannery there in company with Elisha Harkness ; re- 
turned to the old homestead, 1837, ^"d removed, with 
his son Elisha, to Berlin, Mass., 1856. He d. Sept. 
18, 1861, aged 77; she d. Feb. 8, 1862, aged 75. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 309 

Had Elisha, b. March ii, 1811 ; Ahaz, b. Oct. 28, 
1812 ; Susanna, b. March 7, 1814, d. Sept. 26, 1815 ; 
Daniel, b. Oct. 8, 1816, d. Dec. 5, 1839; William, b. 
Oct. 5, 1819; Barek and Deborah (twins), b. Au^^. 
10, 1827, d. young. 

Elisha Bassctt — Daniel — William — ist m. Olive 
B. Stewart, 1843 ; she d. March 18, 1845 ; 2d m. 
Maria, dr. of Job Whitcomb, of Swansey, Nov. 27, 
1847 ; lived on the old homestead with his father until 
he removed to Berlin, Mass., 1856, where he still re- 
sides. Had by Olive, one child: Olive S.,b. March 
7, 1845; by Maria: Daniel, b. July 9, 1849; Pliny 
E., b. May 29, 1853; Anna S., b. June 28, 1856. 
Maria, by former husband, had Ellen M. Howland, 
b. Oct. 14, 1839. 

Ahaz Basse! t — Daniel — William — m. Rhoda, 
dr. of William Randall ; lived at the Four corners, 
on the Gideon Man farm, and he, together with his 
brother William, carried on the tanning business. 
They built the house now owned by Cyrel Amadou. 
He removed to Worcester, 1846 ; is now a veterinary 
surgeon, and lives in Hudson, Mass. Had Orlan 
W., b. March 14, 1839, ^- Sept. 8, 1840; Warren I., 
b. July 24, 1842, d. Dec. 22, 1846; Arthur A., b. 
Nov. 6, 1845, d. Nov. 22, 1845; Alfreda,' b. April 
21, 1856, m. Charles F. Boyce. 

Williani Dassctl — Daniel — William — m. , Dec . 
13, 1846, Patience, dr. of Moses Tyler. She d. June 
13, 1880, aged 60. Lived at the Four corners, in the 
house now occupied b}' Cyrel Amadou ; was engaged 
in the tanning and currying business until 1852, when 
he removed to Worcester ; from thence removed to 
Berlin, Mass., 1857, where he still resides. Had 



3IO HISTORY OF THE 

Mary A., b. Jul}' 21, 1848; Laura E., b. Sept. 5, 
1850, d. Nov. 10, 1852 ; Julia Ida, b. Oct. 26, 1854; 
Florence May, b. April i, 1858; Helen E., b. Feb. 
17, i860. Has held various offices of trust and re- 
sponsibility. In Richmond he was selectman, town 
clerk, and town treasurer ; in Berlin, his present 
residence, he has been selectman, assessor, and 
school committeeman ; and in 1864, was senator in 
the General Court, for the Worcester east district, 
and is also author of this work. 

BATTLES. 

David Baffles came to town in 1819, and was a 
miller at Sprague's mills until 1831. 

BEALS. 

Luther Beals, from Swansey, m. Alfreda, dr. of 
John Martin. Had Lucy A. J., b. Sept. 13, 1857; 
Amos E., b. April 9, 1862, and J. S. Comodore. 
He d. Aug. 22, 1865, aged 45. 

J. S. Comodore Beals, son of Luther, m. Addie 
P., dr. of Andrew J. Bliss, of Royalston, Oct. 6, 
1870; lives on the John Martin place, westof Leason 
Martin's. Had Olin L., b. April 21, 1873; Archie 
A., b. Aug. 25, 1874; Henrietta A. F., b. June 20, 
1877, d. March 24, 1878; Charles, b. Feb. 5, 1879; 
Phebe M., b. April 8, 1882. 

BEMIS. 
Elbridge G. Bemis, from Dublin, about 1865, 
bought the mills at North Richmond : was moderator 
for several years, and was on the board of selectmen^ 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 3II 

and representative to the General Court. lie made 
pail-staves, clothes-pins, etc. He removed, 1875. 

BENNETT. 
yohn Bennett^ from Douglass, Mass., 1787, bought 
of Daniel Read his farm, L. 15, R. 10, the place since 
occupied by Urial Jillson, Lovel Church, and others. 
He removed to Swansey, and there lived and died 
with his son Levi. Had Levi, David, b. July 3, 
1764; Deborah, b. July 3, 1764, m. Isaac Man; 
Asahel, b. July 16, 1766; Mary, b. Dec. 15, 1768, 
m. Cyrus Garnsey ; Nehemiah, b. Dec. 28, 1770;-' 
Joanna, b. Feb. 12, 1778, m. Jonas Twitchell ; and 
Naomi, m. Curtis. 

Levi Bcnnctl — John — had three children, viz.: 
John, Sally, m. Samuel Thompson ; and Allen. He 
removed to Swansey. 

David Bennett — John — m.,June 10, 1787, Amy, 
dr. of Anthony Harris. Had Caleb, David, Luke, 
and Lydia. He removed to Swansey. 

Asahel Bennett — John — m., Feb. 9, 1792, Han- 
nah, dr. of John Cass, jr. He lived on the farm now 
owned by Amos Garnsey. He died at the Four 
corners, while keeping Mrs. Howe's tavern, April 5, 
1S12, aged 46. No children. 

Nehemiah Bennett — John — m. Lucy, dr. of 
Deacon Amos Garnsey. He also removed to Swan- 
sey. Had Hiram, Esther, Nellie, Amos, Asahel, 
John, and Lucy. 

Allen Bennett — Levi — John — had, by Mary 
Cooley, one son, Ephraim. 



312 HISTORY OF THE 

Amos Bennett — Nehemiah — John — m., April 
i8, 1821, Lucretia, dr. of Esek Buftum. He built 
the house where Amos Newell now lives, and had a 
shoe-shop near by. He removed to the Esek Buftum 
place about 1833. He d. Sept. 2, 1856; she d. May 
13, 1882. Had Emily B., b. 1824, m. Enos Bigelow ; 
Amos G., b. Oct. 7, 1826; Asahel, b. March 23, 
1828; Oscar, b. July, 1830, d. Sept. 30, 1854, aged 
24; John, b. March 4, 1834: Andrew, b. Nov., 
1836; Wales B., b. Oct. 26, 1839; Fanny, b. Aug. 
7, 1843, m. William Garnsey ; Sarah Jane, b. June 
23, 1848, m. John M. Swain. 

Amos G. Bennett, son of Amos, m. Almina C, 
dr. of Peleg Taft, jr. He lived with Mr. Taft on the 
old place ; from thence removed to the Four corners, 
and carried on blacksmithing at the Pickering place ; 
finally removed to West Swansey, 1879. Had Oscar 
C, b. Feb. 28, 1848; Otto P., b. Nov. 7, 1857. 

Asahel Bennett, son of Amos, m., April 29, 185 1, 
Angela A., dr. of Joseph Buftum. He lived a while 
on the Joseph Buftum place, and from thence removed 
to Connecticut, and now resides in Norwich. Had 
Edgar A., John F., Arthur L., and William E. 

Oscar Bennett, son of Amos, m., Oct. 29, 185 1, 
Polly A., dr. of Joseph Newell, jr. Had Hattie L., 
b. Nov. 12, 1853, m. Herbert Holbrook, d. April 13, 
1879. Oscar was killed, Sept. 30, 1854, aged 24. 

yo/in Bennett, son of Amos, m. Martha B. Bald- 
win, of Charlestown, N. H. He is a provision dealer 
in Keene. No children. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 313 

Andrczu Dennett.^ son of Amos, m. Emma, dr. o 
Cyrus Davis, of Royalston ; is an engineer, and lives 
in Oswego, N. Y. Has three children. 

Wales D. Bennett^ son of Amos, m., Nov. 25, 
1865, Mary E., dr. of Joseph Buftum, jr. ; lives 
in Meriden, Conn. Had Ora W., b. June 12, 1864; 
Addie A., b. July 12, 1872; Florence E., b. Sept. 
15, 1874. 

EfJwaim Bennett^ son of Allen, m. Hannah, dr. of 
Ezekiel Streeter ; was a shoemaker ; lived a while at 
Col. Buftum's. Had James M. and Orlando. He 
and his wife are now dead, and also the two sons. 

yanics M. Bennett^ son of Ephraim, m. Susanna, 
dr. of Thomas Boyce. He lived on a cross-road 
south of the Wyman Thayer place. Had one son, 
Willie. 

yesse Bennett came to town about 1827 ; lived on 
the Samuel Gaskill place until 1836, when he dis- 
appeared. 

BENSON. 

Capt. Isaac Benson^ ist m. Martha ; 2d m. Debo- 
rah Cass, of Smithfield, dr. of Ebenezer Cass, from 
which place it is probable Mr. Benson came. He 
settled on L. 16, R. 3, the farm now owned by Jacob 
Boyce. The buildings, still standing, were erected 
by him in 1788. The house was evidently designed 
for a tavern, and was so used for some years, being 
on a road from Swansey to Royalston, and a way 
that was much travelled for a time. The tomb con- 
nected with the cemetery near by was the first and 
only one in town for nearly one hundred years after 



314 HISTORY OF THE 

iis settlement. Had by Martha, as appears on record, 
five children, viz. : John, Irene, Isaac, Joanna, and 
Lydia. He d. 1818. 

'John Benson, son of Isaac, m. Margaret Ballou, 
dr. ofSeth, Jan. 25, 1789. He lived on his father's 
other place, north of Reuben Bowen's. Had four 
children, viz. : Hosea, Job, John, jr., and James. 
He moved to Vermont. 

Isaac Benson, jr., son of Isaac, m. Eunice Sawyer, 
May 9, 1793. He lived on his father's place a few 
years, and then removed to Vermont. Had eight 
children, viz. : Henry, Martha, Eunice, Caleb, Mar- 
maduke, Rufus, Lydia, and Isaac. 

Henry Benson — Isaac — Isaac — m. Betse}' Buf- 
fum, dr. of Robert, April 7, 1822. He inherited the 
old homestead from his grandfather. He sold to 
Jacob Boyce, and moved to Pennsylvania about 
1835. Had five children, viz. : Henr}', Zarina, 
Betsey, also a son and daughter who died in 
infancy. 

BIGELOW. 

Enos Bigelozu, from New Boston, m. Emih^ dr. 
of Amos Bennett, Esq., 1839. Kept the old Wake- 
field tavern that year, and removed to Keene, where 
he still resides. Is a building mover. 

BISBEE. 

Noah Bishce, b. May 23, 1752, son of Elijah Bis- 
bee, of Plympton, Mass., 1805, bought of Joseph 
Sweeter his farm, L. 12, R. 4, the place now owned 
by Abner S. Gardner; m. Jane Bradford, a descend- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 315 

ant of Gov. Bradford, of the Plymouth colony. He 
d. Jan. 28, 1839 ' ^h*^ ^* March 20, 1834. Had six 
children, all b. in Plympton, viz. : Jane, b. Feb. 23, 
1779, m. Capt. Benjamin Crooker ; Noah, b. Feb. 17, 
1781 ;Job, b. Nov. 24, 1783 ; Betsey, b. April i, 1787, 
m. Ono Cass ; Seth, b. June 11, 1789 ; Sally, b. June 
24, 1790, m. Willard Waldron. 

NoahBisbec,jr. — Noah — m. Rachel, dr. of Daniel 
Man, Dec. 27, 1810. He was killed at the battle of 
Bridgevvater, Upper Canada, July 24, 1814, in the fa- 
mous charge made by Col. James Miller on a British 
battery. Had one child, William Bradford, b. Dec. 
22, 181 1, who resides in Ohio. 

Job Bishce — Noah — m. Deborah, dr. of Benja- 
min Crooker, Aug. 28, 1810. He kept store at the 
Crooker place and at the Four corners, kept tavern 
for the widow Howe, was post-master at the same 
time. Afterwards lived at various places in town, 
and d. Aug. 2, 1855, aged 72, with no relatives in 
town to follow his remains to the grave ; his wife d. 
Feb. 25, 181 1, aged 20. 

Seth Bishee — Noah — m. Leah, dr. of Levi Al- 
drich, Nov. 29, 1810. He was out in the war of 1812, 
was wounded in the battle of Bridgewater. He re- 
moved to Penn. soon after the close of the war. 



BISHOP. 

Jesse Bishop, b. July 4, 1800, was the son of Ga- 
briel Bishop of Fitzwilliam. He m. Lucinda, dr. of 
Jesse Ballon. Lived in small house near Mr. Bal- 
lou's. Had Smith B., b. Nov. 12, 1814 : Betsey B., 



3l6 HISTORY OF THE 

b. Aug. lO, 1818 ; and Lois, b. April 22, 1823, m. 
Harrison Taft. His wife d. in 1837, aged 38; he d. 
about i860. 

A hardier frame ne'er was made 
Than was the son of that old Gabe ; 
Of toughest fibre he must have been, 
Case-hardened too was all within, 
Else fish and fowl he ate undrest. 
Would 've sent him to eternal rest. 
He capers cut, when he was young. 
The devil he was the youth among. 
At times he had a saintly grace, 
Shining o'er his cunning face. 
His life, some warped when it begun, 
More tangled 't was when it was done. 



BLACK. 

Caft. William Black removed to the Solomon 
Atherton farm 1826. Sold or exchanged with Reuben 
Rich and removed back to Winchester 1829. 

Mrs. Susan A. Black, widow of Sumner W. Black, 
of Swansey, and dr. of Ellery K. Aldrich, Esq., lives 
on the Bill Woodward place. He d. in the late war 
in 1863. Had Ella A., b. 1857, d. 1859; Grace E., 
b. Feb. 14, i860. 

BLANDING. 

Ehcnezer Blanding, from Royalston, who was 
b. in Rehobath, bought of John Ingersoll the David 
Cass farm, L. 5, R. 9, the place now owned by 
Davis Sprague ; from thence he removed to Rich- 
field, N. Y., and there died, aged about 90. Had 
Otis and Royal, and fifteen others. 

Otis Blanding — Ebenezer — ist m. Abigail, dr. 
of Jeremiah Barrus, Dec. i, 1808; she d. April 18, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 317 

1823, aged 34; 2d m. Sarah, dr. of Daniel Cass, jr., 
Jan. 20, 1825. Had by Abigail: Harvey, b. May, 
1809; Jason, b. Aug. 21, 1811, d. June 12, 1840; 
Prudence, b. Jan. 24, 1813, m. Dennis Bowen ; 
Oscar F., b. March 4, 1819; Mansel M., b. April 
17, 1822; Otis, removed to Michigan, and there 
died. 

Ruyal Blanding — Ebenezer — m. Betsey Ballou, 
Nov. 18, 1802, dr. of Russell. No record. 

Harvey Blanding — Otis — Ebenezer — m. Mary 
Howe ; was a manufacturer of pails in Troy, N. H. 
He d. March 23, 1859. Had Mary J., Oscar J., 
Jenetta, and Adaline. 

Oscar F. Blanding^ son of Otis, ist m. Lydia, dr. 
of Thomas Goddard, June 5, 1844; 2d m. Hannah 
C, dr. of Henry Whipple, May 18, 1846. Lived in 
the Pickering house at the Four corners, and on the 
Seth Curtis place a while ; and, lastly, removed to 
Fitzwilliam, where he still resides. Had by Lydia : 
Oscar Goddard, b. July 24, 1845 ; and by Hannah 
had Aurora J., b. Feb. 28, 1848; Laura A., b. Sept. 
27, 1849; Henry W., b. Jan. 10, 1852; Harriet P., 
b. Jan. 28, 1854; ^"^ Lyman H., b. Jan. 24, 1858. 
Lydia d. Aug. 21, 1845. 

Mansel M. Blanding^ son of Otis, m. Persis M., 
dr. of Zimri Ingalls, Dec. 24, 1845. Had three chil- 
dren, viz. : Eugenia, Francenia, and Julia. 

Gilbert Blanding^ from Worcester, 1853, lived in 
the house now owned by Cyrel Amadon : removed, 
1856, to the farm now owned by George B. Handy, 



3l8 HISTORY OF THE 

and again removed to Athol, 1867. Had a daughter, 
and a son, William, who lived with him, and m. the 
dr. of Horace Merrifield. 

Sometimes "matches in Heaven are made," 

But more often are made below ; 
Whether this was only a jockey trade, 

I do not care to know. 



BLISS. 

Benjamin W. Bliss, son of Benjamin W. Bliss, of 
Royalston, ist m., Sept. 12, 1849, Devine A. Lewis, 
of Winchester ; 2d m., July 2, 1866, Almira Cass, 
widow of Jarvis Cass. Lives nearly opposite the old 
house spot where Jerahmeel Allen once lived. Had 
by Devine: Milo W., b. May 16, 1847, d. 1868; 
Oscar P., b. Oct. 3, 1861. By Almira had Mary E., 
b. Sept. 15, 1871. 

BOLLES. 

Among the first settlers seven bearing the name of 
Bolles appear, who came from Rochester, Mass., 
about 1 790, viz. : Nathaniel,Solomon, Jonathan, John, 
Elijah, David, and Obed. Only Nathaniel, John, 
and Elijah remained in town ; of these only the first 
two have descendants remaining therein. 

Nathaniel Bolles, b. March 26, 1758, m. Thankful 
Bolles, Jan. 11, 1778.* She was b. July 18, 1760. 
Settled on L. 18, R. 8, the farm now owned by John 
L. Howard. Was a Baptist minister, preached in the 
old Baptist church after the Rev. Isaac Kenney had 
closed his pastorate, and also a part of the time in the 
Baptist church at West Swansey. For some years 
he was the only minister in town ; he attended most 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 319 

of the funerals, and performed many of the marriage 
ceremonies during the time. He d. Dec. 2, 1843, 
aged 85 ; she d. Nov. 19, 1849, aged 89. Had eleven 
children, viz. ; Lydia, b. Oct. 8, 1778, m. Jesse 
Phillips ; Jane, b. Aug. 21, 1780, m. Moses Kenney ; 
Deliverance, b. July 21, 1782, m. Wyman Richard- 
son; Nathan, b. Sept. 2, 1784; Sally, b. July 25, 
1786, m. Jona. Scott; Nathaniel, b. Aug. 11, 1788, 
removed to Bethlehem, N. H. ; Thankful, b. May 29. 
1790, m. Samuel Starkey ; Bullock, b. July 12, 1792, 
d. Aug. 2, 1793 ; Jeremiah, b. Oct. 25, 1793 ; Mary, 
b. July 29, 1798, m. Elijah Buxton ; Hannah, b. 1799, 
m. Daniel Ball; Phebe, b. Sept. 8, 1800, d. Sept. 2, 
1823. 

Nathan Bollcs — Nathaniel — m. Elizabeth Bishop, 
Jan. I, 1804. Had Luke, b. Nov. 26, 1804 ; Nathan, 
b. 181 1. 

'Jeremiah Bolles — Nathaniel — ist m. Hannah 
Aldrich, Jan. 9, 1814 ; 2d m. Lydia Batcheller, of 
Reading, Mass., Dec. 12, 1847. Lived on the home 
place. He d. March 29, 1877, aged 84; Hannah d. 
Oct. 20, 1846; Lydia d. Dec. 7, 1865. Had Abigail, 
b. Oct. 6, 1814, d. June 16, 185 1 ; Nathaniel, b. May 

5, 1817 ; Leonard N., b. Nov. 27, 1819, d. Sept. 28, 
1836; Charles A., b. May 16, 1823; Phebe, b. Oct. 

6, 1827, m. Charles Norwood, she d. Dec. 30, 1864; 
Jonathan, b. Feb. 7, 1833, d. x\pril 23, 1852. 

Nathan Bolles^ jr. — Nathan — Nathaniel — m . Fati- 
ma, dr. of William Whipple ; lived on the Levi Mowry 
place, now owned by Frank E. Naromore. Had two 
children that d. in infancy, viz. : James E., d. 1849; 
Henry A., d. 1856; also, Eliza Ann, Emily, Albert, 



320 HISTORY OF THE 

and Frederick. He d. Nov. 20, 1875, aged 64; she 
d. July 21, i860, aged 42. 

Charles A. Bolles — Jeremiah — Nathaniel — m. 
Harriet E. Kettridge, July 4, 1850. He d. Oct. 29, 
1855. Lived in a new house near the old homestead. 

'John Bolles, brother of Nathaniel, ist m. Mercey 
Randall ; 2d m. Cynthia, dr. of Enoch Southwick, 
April 19, 1805. He bought of John Robinson, 1783, 
his farm, L. 17, R. 8, and built the house now stand- 
ing on the place, which is occupied by Mrs. Benjamin 
Bolles ; was by trade a shoemaker. Had eighteen 
children, viz., by Mercey: Mary, b. Jan. 20, 1780; 
David, b. Feb. 15, 1781 ; Obed, b. June 12, 1782; 
Prudence, b. Feb. 16, 1784: John, b. June 8, 1787; 
Simeon, b. June 3, 1789; Mercey, b. Nov. 29, 1791 ; 
Hosea, b. March 12, 1794; Lewis, b. May 15, 1796; 
Lovice, b. June 28, 1798; Daniel, b. June 29, 1800; 
Amos, b. June 17, 1802. By Cynthia had Jesse, b. 
Nov. II, 1805 ; Randall, b. Sept. 22, 1807 ; Stephen, 
b. Sept. 17, 1809; Benjamin, b. Oct. 17, 1812 ; 
Elisha, b. Nov. 15, 1814 ; Elizabeth, b. Aug. 11, 
1820. He d. March 22, 1829, aged 74 ; Merce}^ d. 
Dec. 23, 1804, aged 44; Cynthia d. April 3, 1859, 
aged 79. 

yesse Bolles — John — m., March 3, 1833, Han- 
nah, dr. of Daniel Temple; bought the place where 
his son Edwin now resides, 1829; moved the 
Caleb Buffum house on the site of the old house, 
which had been removed ; lived there a few years, 
and then removed to the Jonathan Gaskill place, his 
present residence. Had John, b. Dec, 3, 1833, d. in 
the late war; Ellen, b. Aug. 15, 1835, "^- F. O. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 321 

Bowen ; Cynthia, b. Nov. 29, 1837, m. Brigham 
Cass; Henry R., b. Dec. 29, 1839, killed in the 
war; Samuel, b. Sept. 30, 1842; Edwin, b. Jan. 
15, 1845. 

Benjamin Bollcs — John — m. Emily, dr. of 
Samuel Starkey, Sept. 9, 1843. He lived on the 
old homestead, where the family still reside. He 
d. Jan. 31, 1870. Had Clara E., b. March 11, 1847 ; 
Walter J., b. March 11, 185 1, m. Alice R. Tucker, 
lives in Fitchburg ; Addie M., b. May 16, 1857, m. 
Ernest G. Naromore, lives in Lunenburg; Ozro H., 
b. Aug. 21, 1859. 

EUsha BoUcs — John — m. Sarah Richardson, of 
Templeton ; lived where Edwin Bollcs now resides. 
He d. Oct. 6, 187 1. Had Eliza Jane, b. Feb. 9, 
1844, m. George B. Handy; Julia A., b. Feb. 21, 
1846, m. Stephen M. Whipple ; Lucy A., b. April 19, 
1848, m. Omer A. Brown; Alice M., b. Feb. 2, 
1859, ™- Abel Smith. Mrs. Bolles 2d m. Joseph 
Whitcomb, and lives on the Jonathan Sweet place. 

Edtuin Bolles^ son of Jesse, is married, and lives 
on the Verney Gaskill place. 

Solomon Bollcs^ brother oi Nathaniel Bolles, m. 
Catherine Bolles, Aug. 18, 1779. He settled on a 
place north of George Buffum's old place, on an old 
road long since discontinued, running northerly from 
Benjamin Newell's old place to Swansey, and north 
of the Simeon Thayer farm. This was next to 
Swansey, L. 20, R. 7. Removed from town about 
1810. Had Timothy, Elijah, Abigail, Isaac, Samuel. 



322 HISTORY OF THE 

yonathan Bolles, brother of Nathaniel, was mar- 
ried, and lived on the place south of George Buftum's, 
on the old road above described, L. i8, R. 7 ; re- 
moved to Lisbon, N. H. Had Jonathan, who m. 
Phebe, dr. of Reuben Parker, June i, 1797 : she d. 
July 20, 1857. 

Elijah Bolles^ brother of Nathaniel, m. Lucy 
Robertson, Sept. 30, 1794; lived on the place next 
south of George Taylor's. Had Robinson, who d. in 
Winchester, 1882, aged 85 ; Emory, Barney, Chloe, 
and Lucy. He and his wife d. on the place. He d. 
1832. 

Obed Bolles^ son of* John, ist m. Selah Goss, 
April 15, 1798; 2d m. Waity Aldrich, Dec. 27, 1803. 
He lived on a road now discontinued, leading from 
George Taylor's, eastwardly, to the road north of the 
Jeremiah Bolles place. 

David Bolles, brother of Nathaniel, first lived on 
the old road east of George Taylor's, where Obed 
lived afterwards ; had no permanent home ; lived at 
various places in town. 

BOORN. 

Capi. Amos Boom, son of William and Mary 
Boorn, b. March 25, 1737, m. Louvisa Simmons. 
He was one of the first settlers in the east part of the 
town, and was from Swansey, R. L, and had been a 
sea captain. He took L. 9, R. i, the farm now owned 
by Calvin Martin, on which he built a two-story frame 
house, now gone, that stood south of Mr. Martin's. 
Hon. A. O. Bourn, governor of R. L, is from a 
branch of the same family. He d. 1820, aged 84 ; 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 323 

she d. 1830. Had nine children, viz. ; Stephen, b. 
Dec. 5, 1765; Nathan, b. July 17, 1768; William, 
b. Nov. 30, 1769 ; Gardner, b. Oct. 9, 1771 ; Lydia, b. 
March 12, 1773, m. Otis Whipple; Loiivisa, m. An- 
thony Corey; Amos, b. March 25, 1778, moved to 
Wallinglbrd, Vt. ; Abraham, b. Oct. 28, 1780 ; Nicene, 
m. William Hunt. 

William Booj-n — Amos — m. Dec. 9, 1790, Abi- 
gail, dr. of Jonathan Sweet. He moved to Shrews- 
bury, Vt., 1795, where he lived several years, but re- 
turned 1810, and lived on the place first settled by 
Enoch White, afterwards occupied by John Gorton. 
He remained here the rest of his days, and d. March 
22, 1848; she d. Feb. 24, 1845. Had Luke and 
Polly, d. in infancy; Nathaniel, b. March 3, 1791 ; 
Cynthia, b. July 3, 1796, d. Feb. 16, 1S16, while 
weaving in a liand-loom. 

Stephen Boom — Amos — m. Silvia, dr. of Jacob 
Bump, Sept. 5, 1792. Had a part of his father's 
farm ; built the house where Calvin Martin now lives. 
He removed to the Butternuts about 1831. Had 
Hosea, Gardner, Richard, Lovina, m. Joel Hunt; 
Maria, Diana, b. April, 1810, m. Josiah Whitcomb, 
the old stage driver from Keene to Fitchburg. 

Abraham Boom — Amos — m. Lydia, dr. of Dan- 
iel Cass, jr. She was b. March 28, 1785. Had Gard- 
ner, Daniel, Winslow, Phebe, Abraham. 

Richard Boom — Stephen — Amos — m. Phila 
Bowen, dr. of Peleg. He lived with his grandfather 
Bump a few years, and then moved to the Butternuts. 
Had Jacob and Leonard. 



324 HISTORY OF THE 

Nathaniel Boo7'n — William — Amos — m. Mary, 
dr. of John Cass, jr., March i, 181 2. He lived with 
his father in Vt., and returned to town with him, and 
they together occupied the same place. Removed to 
Swansey, where he lived a few years, then went to 
Royalston, where he d. Feb. 17, 1875, aged ^2>i ^^^d 
she d. May 7, 1863, aged 72. Had Asahel B., b. 
May 30, 1813 ; Ansel, b. Aug. 15, 1814; William, b. 
April 2, 1817, d. Aug. 26, 1838; Selina, b. June 13, 
1821, m. Moses Garfield, of Royalston ; Nathaniel, b. 
Jan. 8, 1826; John C, b. Oct. 8, 1829. Mr. Boorn 
lived on the old farm 44 years. 

Gardner Boorn — Stephen — Amos — m. Sarah, 
dr. of Thomas Bowen. Was killed blasting rocks on 
the new road south of Preston Freeman's, 1832. Had 
three children, viz.: Sarah M., m. Frank Towne ; 
Henry G., m. Susan Temple ; and Silvia, d. 9 years 
of age. 

Hosea Boom — Stephen — Amos — ist m. Amy 
Martin, dr. of Wilderness, June 28, 1815 ; 2d m. 
Nancy Kendall, Jul}^ 8, 182 1. He lived in the house 
with his father until he removed to Penn. about 1831. 
Had by Amy, Danvers and Danford ; and by Nancy, 
Amy, Amos, and Cyrus. 

Daniel Boot'u — Abraham — Amos — m. Olive, dr. 
of Silas Ballon, jr., Feb. 23, 1824. Lived at various 
places. Had eleven children, viz. : Daniel G., Nel- 
son D., Horatio A.,Velorus A., Isaac W., Olive M., 
Mary A., Marshall H., Julia E., George M., Olive 
Maria. The family removed west. 

Asahel B. Boorn — Nathaniel — William — Amos 
— m. 1833, Nancy, dr. of Aaron Aldrich. He lived 



/ 



TOWN OF RTCIIMONI). 325 

in town a number of years, and then removed to 
Penn., where his wife d. Nov. 7, 1846. He returned 
to Richmond, and thence removed to Wallingford, Vt., 
where he m. Patience Dawson, Sept. 2, 1849. ^^^ 
by Nancy five children ; by Patience had nine children. 
Hed. in Wallingford, May 13, 1881. 

Ansel Boom — Nathaniel — William — Amos — 
m., March 19, 1832, Laura Ann, dr. of Silas Ballou 
3d, Moved to Swansey. Had ten children. He d. 
Aug. I, 1848; his widow m. William Wheelock, and 
d. Sept. 14, 1872. 

Nathaniel Boom, jr. ^ m., Aug. 20, 1851, Mary 
Butler, of Troy. Removed to Swansey, and thence, 
in 1870, went to St. Augustine, 111., where he now 
resides. Has three children. 

yohn C. Boom — Nathaniel — William — Amos — 
m. Esther M. Emerson, of Troy, Nov. 24, 1853. He 
resides in East Swansey. No children. 

BOWEN. 

Thomas Bozven, the ancestor of all bearing the 
name in town, came from Warren, R. I., 1767 » m. 
Penelope Aldrich, of Northbridge, b. Nov. 26, 1748, 
dr. of John and Mary, and a sister to the wife of 
Joseph Newell, and also to the wife of Reuben 
Randall. Had two children when he came, Nathan 
and Nathaniel. He settled on L. 14, R. 4, the place 
now owned and occupied by his grandson, Zimri. 
The house he built and lived in was on the north side 
the road, west of the new one built by the present 
owner. He d. July 12, 1834, ^" '^^^ 9^^^ year; she 



326 HISTORY OF THE 

d. June 10, 1825, in her 77th year. Had thirteen 
children, viz. : Nathan, b. Sept. 11, 1765 ; Nathaniel 
A.-; Catherine, b. Jan. 28, 1770, m. Aaron Ballon; 
Peleg, b. March 3, 1772 ; Reuben, b. April 16, 1774 ; 
Zephaniah, b. Oct. 10, 1776; Mary, b. Oct. 20, 
1778; Jesse, b. Feb. 25, 1782; Esther, b. Aug. 29, 

1784, d. Feb. 12, 1854; Phebe, b. Aug. 7, 1786, m. 
Barnet Bump; Lydia, b. Aug. 7, 1786, m. Jacob 
Bump, jr. ; Sarah, b. Dec. 22, 1789, m. Gardner 
Boorn. 

Nathan Bozvcn — Thomas — ist m., Feb. 15, 1783, 
Rachel Stoddard, who was b. March 11, 1763; 2d 
m., Dec. 4, 1804, Lavina Sweet, dr. of Jacob Bump, 
and widow of Richard Sweet. He settled on L. 11, 
R. I, the same now owned by his sons Nathan and 
Richard, in the year 1783, and in the fall of that 
year built a log-house, and afterwards a frame-house, 
on the spot where Richard's house now stands. He 
d. Nov. 25, 1828; Rachel d. March 8, 1804; Lavina 
d. Dec. 19, 185 1. Had fourteen children by Rachel, 
viz. : Ezra, b. June 14, 1783 ; Hannah, b. March 20, 

1785, 1st m. David Cobleigh, 2d m. John Harkness ; 
Thomas, b. Dec. 3, 1786, m. Hannah Harkness; 
Abigail, b. Feb. 13, 1789; Jesse, b. March 22, 1791, 
m. Dilla Cole; Eleanor, b. April 28, 1793, m. Eli 
Carroll, had an inHint b. and d. April 28, 1795 : 
Mary, b. Dec. 14, 1796, m. Aaron Ballou ; Rachel, 
b. Nov. 26, 1799, m. Barney Ballou ; Nathan, jr., b. 
Aug. 27, 1803, d. young. By Lavina had Lavina, 
b. Aug. 28, 1805, d. March 31, 1821 ; Nathan, b. 
May 7, 1807 ; Richard, b. March 23, 1809; Eliza, b. 
Dec. 28, 181 1, m. Wheaton C. Jillson, d. Aug., 
1842. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 327 

IVathanicl A. Bozvcn — Thomas — m., April 5, 
1789, Lovice Gaskill, dr. of Jonathan. He bought of 
Verney Gaskill, 1799, the east part of the Gaskill 
farm, L. 8, R. 4, on which was a two-story house, 
on the spot where Edwin Bolles now lives. Here he 
kept a public house and store. The house was taken 
down by Levi Wheeler about 1826, and the material 
used for the construction of the house now occupied 
by Jonas Wheeler. Had nine children, viz. : James, 
b. July 7, 1789; Richard, b. Nov. 5, 1791, m. Can- 
dace, dr. of William Buflum, and moved to the Hol- 
land purchase; Rufus, b. July 20, 1794, d. 3^oung ; 
Olive, b. June 20, 1798, m. Gideon Hix ; Nathaniel 
A., b. Jan. 28, iSoi, moved to the Holland pur- 
chase. Had also Patience, Marinda, Julia Ann, and 
Hannah. 

Pclcg- Boivcn — Thomas — ist m., Jan. i, 1795, 
Patience Streeter, dr. of Barzillai ; 2d m.. May 3, 
1807, Sally Gleason. He lived on the place next 
north of his father's, on the part of L. 15, R. 4, first 
settled by Royal Aldrich. Had by Patience : Polly, 
b. Nov. 13, 1796, m. David Harris; Phila, b. Nov. 
8, 1798, m. Richard Boorn ; Betsey, b. March 7, 
1801, m. Aaron Whipple; David, b. April 2, 1803, 
moved to the Butternuts, a place in central New 
York ; Candace, b. March 24, 1795, d. young. By 
Sally had Isaac G., moved to Illinois; and Lucinda, 
moved to New York. 

Rciihcn Bozucn — Thomas — m. Hannah Allen, dr. 
of Moses, sr. He d. Sept. 5, 1825, aged 51 ; she d. 
June 6, 1843, aged 67. Lived on the farm next north 
of the Benson place, L. 17, R. 3. Had Olive, b. 
Ma}- II, 1797, m. Enoch Stewart; Penelope, b. May 



328 HISTORY OF THE 

8, 1799, m. Nicholas Hart; Rufus, b. Oct 8, 1800; 
Brittania, b. May 24, 1802, m. Abner Ballou ; Sally, 
b. March 16, 1804,01. Ira Fisher; Allen, b. Sept. 
15, 1805 ; Louisa, b. Aug. 3, 1807, m. Caleb Boyce ; 
Hannah, b. June 18, 1809, m. Darius Hart; Reuben, 
b. July 21, 1811 ; Martha, b. July 15, 1813, ist m. 
Ira Fisher, 2d m. D. B. Aldrich ; Sarah, b. Oct. 5, 
1815, m. Thomas Fenner ; Fostina, b. Dec. 7, 1818, 
m. Silas White ; Lydia, b. Nov. 4, 1820, m. Farris 
Taft. 

Zcfhaniah Bowcn — Thomas — m., Feb. 25, 1798, 
Martha, dr. of Moses Allen, sr. He bought the 
David Russell place, and lived on the same, L. 15, 
R. 4, a few years after his marriage, and then moved 
onto the old homestead and took care of his lather 
and mother. He d. June 4, 1851, aged 74 ; shed. 
Oct. 10, 1854, aged 72. Had Hannah, b. May 28, 
1799, ist m. Alva Howard, 2d m. Robert Boyce; 
Moses A., b. Nov. 16, 1800, m. Eliza Angier, and 
moved to Illinois; Margaret, b. May 15, 1802, istm. 
Walter Erskine, 2d m. Maturin Ballou ; Phebe, b. 
Sept. 4, 1804, m. Nahum Sisson, of Texas ; Zimri, b. 
June 29, 1806; Thomas, b. March 11, 1808, m. Sally 
T. Boyce, dr. of John, jr., and moved to Indiana; 
Lydia, b. Feb. 10, 1810, m. Reuben Angier; Den- 
nis, b. March 5, 1812, m. Prudence Blanding, dr. of 
Otis, and d. on the old place; Eliza A. M., b. Jan., 
1814, m. Reuben Angier: Zephaniah A., b. March 
24, 1816, d. July II, 1819 ; Savalla L., b. March 6, 
1823, m. Noah Perry. 

Ezra Bowcn — Nathan — Thomas — m., March 
15. 1807, widow Lois Harris. He moved to Sutton, 
Vt. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 329 

Thomas Bozvcn — Nathan — Thomas — m. Feb. i8, 

1810, Hannah, dr. of John Harkness. He removed 
to western N. Y. 

ycssc Bowcn — Nathan — Thomas — m. Jan. 30, 

181 1, Dilla Cole. Had one child, Harris, b. Sept. 
22, 1812. He moved to Vt. 

Nathan Bowcn, — Nathan — Thomas — m. Nov. 
19, 1829, Alpha, dr. of Otis Whipple, b. Dec. 2, 1808. 
Lived in the old house until 1840, when he built a 
new house, where he has since resided. He built a 
saw-mill on Tully, which he operated for more than 
20 years. He was on the board of selectmen in 1849. 
Had ten children, viz. : Harriet E., b. May 14, 
1830, m. Nov. 26, 185 1, Robert F. Boyce, lives in 
Athol ; Olive J. A., b. Oct. 5, 1831, ist m. Romanzo 
Howard, 2d m. Samuel Thompson, lives in Troy ; 
Franklin O., b. Aug. 28, 1833 ; Frederick A., b. 
July 3, 1835 '■> Eliza E., b. Feb. 7, 1837 '■> Nathan P., 
b. June 15, 1840, d. July 4, 1841 ; Alfred R., b. 
March 20, 1842; Edwin N., b. Nov. 14, 1843; Sid- 
ney B., b. Dec. 28, 1846 ; Emma J., b. Nov. 15, 185 1, 
m. James B. Cass, Jan. i, 1882. 

Richard Bowcn — Nathan — Thomas — m. Oct. 
1832, Joanna, dr. of Moses Allen. Lives on the old 
homestead ; replaced the old house by a new one about 
1858. Had no children; she d. Dec. 25, 1868, aged 
62. 

yamcs Bowcn — Nathaniel A. — Thomas — m. 
April 27, 1809, Abigail Estes, dr. of Zacheus. Lived 
on the David Ingersoll place 181 7, and removed to 
Monroe, Mass., the same year; he d. Feb. 22, 1851, 



330 HISTORY OF THE 

aged 6i ; she d. 1833, aged 42. Had Horatio, 
Uberto, b. Feb. 22, 1813 ; Lorenzo, d. young ; Loren- 
zo, Orrin, Emily, Albert, and Nancy, the last four b. 
in Monroe. 

Ru/us Bozven — Reuben — Thomas — m. March 
2, 1826, Alona Aldrich, dr. of Rhoda Aldrich. He 
lived on his father's place until he sold and moved to 
Swansey, about 1840. Was a justice of the peace, and 
moderator several times. Had no children ; he d. 
Oct. 6, 1866; she d. Jan. 13, 1866. 

Allen Bowen — Reuben — Thomas — m. Jan. 27, 
183 1, Phila Boyce, dr. of Cadish Boyce. He lived 
on his father's place one year, and then moved to 111., 
where he died. Had two children, Emmerancy and 
Lovina. 

Rciihen Bowcn^ji-. — Reuben — Thomas — m. Eliza 
Watkins, of Hopkinton, Mass. Was a Methodist 
minister. He d. in Hopkinton, June 28, 1843. Had 
no children. 

Zimri Bozucn — Zephaniah — Thomas — m. Dec. 
10, 1835, Polly, dr. of Russell Wheeler, of Royals- 
ton. She was b. July 4, 1812. He lives on the old 
homestead of his father and jjrandfathef. Has seven 
children, viz. : Zimri W., b. Oct. 29, 1837, ""•• Myra 
E. Claflin, and resides in Leominster; Martha L, b. 
Dec. 14, 1839, ^^- Charles D. Kimball; Lydia L., b. 
Jan. 7, 1842, m. Jerahmeel Allen ; Polly A., b. Dec. 
17, 1843 ; George M., b. March 24, 1846 ; Robert D., 
b. Sept. 18, 1848, m. Eleanor P. Russell, lives in 
Leominster; Benjamin F., b. July 12, 1851. 

Uhcrto Bowen — James — Nathaniel A. — Thomas 
— m. Aug. II, 1839, Angela, dr. of Jonathan Raw- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 331 

son, Esq. He continued the store business at the okl 
Rawson stand for a short time, and then detached the 
store from the dwellincr and moved the same farther 
north, which he fitted up in more modern style, and 
did quite an extensive business in the same until it 
was burnt, 1853. Has five children, viz. : Henry R., 
b. June 13, 1840; Alonzo C, b. May 23, 1843, lives 
in Kentucky; Ellen L., b. Dec. 4, 1846, m. Freder- 
ick Bowen ; Albert J., b. April 26, 1848; Frank P., 
b. Oct. I, 1851. 

Franl-Iin O. Bozvcn — Nathan — Nathan — Thom- 
as — m. June 4, 1856, Ellen Bolles, dr. of Jesse. He 
bought the m.ills built by Jacob Whitcomb, jr., on 
Tully, and is still engaged in manufacturing lumber. 
Has two children, viz. : Clara E., b. June 19, i860, 
is a professional nurse in Boston; Nellie F., b. Feb. 
13, 1862. 

Frederick A. Bowen — Nathan — Nathan — Thom- 
as — m. Dec. 4, 1862, Ellen L., dr. of Uberto Bowen. 
Has lived in Keene ; now resides in Fitzwilliam. Had 
Fred. E., b. Oct. 28, 1865 ; Eva, b. March 10, 1867 ; 
Walter Leroy, b. Oct. 26, 1875 ; Adin T., b. June 6, 
1879. 

Edzvin N. Bowen — Nathan — Nathan — Thomas 

— m. Dec. 27, 1866, Jane C. Smith, of Fitzwilliam. 
Lived on the Bowman Howe place. Removed to 
Fitzwilliam, 1882. 

Sidney B. Bozvcn — Nathan — Nathan — Thomas 

— m., March 1867, Jennie E., dr. of Ozial Ballou, and 
widow of Stephen Martin. Lives on the Jacob Whit- 
comb place. Had Minnie M., b. March i, 1869. 



332 HISTORY OF THE 

George M. Bowen, son of Zimri, m. Eliza R. 
Lynch, of Essex, N. Y., b. Sept. 9, 1840. Lives on 
the George Handy place. Had Minnie E., b. Jul}' 
II, 1870; George A., b. March 31, 1872 ; Frank L.,b. 
July 28, 1873 ; Clara L., b. Feb. 25, 1875 5 Clarence 
E., b. Aug. 30, 1879. 

Heni-y R. Bozuen, son of Uberto, m. Jane C, dr. 
of Jerril A. Curtis. Lives in Swansey. 

Frank P. Bozven, son of Uberto, m. Lauretta, dr. 
of Nathaniel Bryant. She d. Jan. 30, 1879. 



BOYCE. 

Paul Boyce ist m. Hannah Staples, 2d m. Phillis 
Cook, widow of Nicholas, Nov. 1,1803. Came from 
Smithfield 1772, and settled on lots in the south-east 
corner of the town, the place since occupied by his 
son Silas and grandson Enoch, and recently by Na- 
thaniel Hills. He was a large land owner, and set- 
tled his sons on adjoining lands. Was hy trade a 
carpenter. He d. 1817, age 81 ; Hannah d. 1803, 
Phillis d. March 21, 1815. Had seven children, viz. : 
Nicene, b. April 17, 1765, m. Samuel Gaskill, Esq. ; 
Cadish, b. 1758; John, b. 1760; Nathan, b. 1763; 
Jacob, b. 1767; Stephen, b. 1770; Silas, b. Nov. 
1779. 

Cadish Boyce — Paul — m. Lavina Bishop, Nov. 
29, 1782. He lived on the place afterwards occupied 
by his son Robert, L. 4, R. 2 ; he d. 1835. H^<^ 
eleven children, viz. : William, b. Oct. 7, 1783, m. 
Sally Sargent, of Fitzwilliam, and moved to Fayston, 
Vt. ; Paul, b. April 7, 1785 ; Lavina, b. Sept. 2, 1787, 



i 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 333 

m. Zelotes Laws; Elizabeth, b. Sept. 24, 1789? ^' 
Silas Maynard ; Irene, b. Nov. 22, 1791, m. Russell 
Wheeler; Charlotte, b. April 17, 1794, d. ; David, b. 
Oct. 3, 1796; Robert, b. April 30, 1799; Caleb, b. 
June 17, 1802, m. Louisa Bo wen, dr. of Reuben, 
lived in Fitzwilliam ; Silas, b. 1804, m. Eliza Flagg, 
of Winchendon ; Phila, b. 1806, m. Allen Bo wen. 

jfo/iJi Boycc — Paul — m.Jan. 12, 1787, Lucy Dix, 
of Reading. He settled where David Thompson 
since lived. Removed to Vt., and there died. Had 
Hannah, b. Aug. 6, 1787, m. Daniel Cass, jr. ; Rox- 
ana, b. May 31, 1789, m. Robert Harkness ; John, b. 
Sept. 22, 1791, m. Polly Estes ; Martha, b. March 14, 
1794, m. David Tolman ; Mary, b. March 14,1794, 
m. Ebenezer Ballou ; Stephen, b. March 10, 1796, m. 
Tolman, of Troy ; James, b. May 5, 1800. 

Nathan Boyce — Paul — m. Zerviah Green, of Roy- 
alston, Feb. 13, 1787. Settled on L. 4, R. i, and 
thence removed to Fayston, Vt., about 1805. Had 
Mary, Dorcas, Dan, Nicene, Phebe, Artemas, Sarah, 
Jacob. 

"Jacob Boycc — Paul — m. Rhoda, dr. of Jacob 
Bump, Jan. 4, 1791. Settled on the place known as 
the Elisha Perry farm, now owned and occupied by 
Nathaniel Hills. Was killed at Royalston by the 
kick of a horse. Had Stephen, b. March 2, 1792 ; 
Diana, who m. Elisha Perry ; and Rhoda, unmarried. 

Stephen Boyce — Paul — m. Joanna, dr. of Eph- 
raim Hix, Aug. 16, 1790. Settled on L. 4, R. 2, on 
or near the Lilburn Allen place. He d. Nov. i, 1790 ; 



334 HISTORY OF THE 

she d. Dec, 28, 1846. Had one child, Prusia, b. 
Dec. I, 1790, m. Silas Whipple. 

Silas Boyce — Paul — m. Comfort, dr. of Moses 
Allen, 1798. Lived on the home place. Was a good 
scholar ; had considerable knowledge of some of the 
ancient languages, and of tlie higher mathematics ; 
studied medical works, was called Doctor, but never 
practiced medicine ; had no special opportunity for 
schooling. He d. Oct. i, 1818, aged 42 ; she d. Sept. 
29, 1838, aged 64. Had eight children, viz. : Thom- 
as, b. June 27, 1800; Enoch, b. June 15, 1802 ; Paul, 
b. March 6, 1805 : Jacob, b. June 27, 1807 ; Hannah, 
b. April 19, 1809, m. Tisdale Howard, of Winchendon ; 
Gratis, b. Sept. 17, 1811, m. Leonard Ballou ; Phebe, 
b. May 4, 1813, m. Amos Corey ; Lydia, b. April 29, 
1815, unmarried, d. about i860. 

Robert Boyce — Cadish — Paul — ist m. widow 
Hannah Howard, dr. of Zephaniah Bowen ; 2d m. 
Rebecca, dr. of Thomas Boyce. He lived on his 
father's place. Had by Hannah: Robert F., b. Oct. 
24, 1828; Russell W., b. Jan. 8, 1831 ; Zephaniah 
A., b. April 5, 1832; H. Eliza, b. Feb. 10, 1835. 
By Rebecca had Emily and Harriet. He d. April 
19, 1849; Hannah d. Oct. 23, 1838. 

yohn Boyce — John — Paul — m. Polly Estes, dr. 
of Zacheus. Lived with his father until about 1829, 
when he removed to Barton, Vt. After a few years 
he returned, and finally removed to Indiana about 
1838. Had Sally, John Dix, Marmaduke S., Ma- 
hala, Mariba, James, Polly, Edwin Plummer, Rox- 
ana, Diana, George, and Daniel Cummings. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 335 

panics Boycc — John — Paul — m. Hannah, dr. of 
Wilderness Martin, Jan. 22, 1829. He had the mills 
and place since owned by Bowman Howe. He re- 
removed to Monroe, Mass., about 1840, and thence to 
Nevvfield, Tompkins Co., N. Y. Had Jasper, 
Paschal, and Madison. 

Thouias Boycc — Silas — Paid — m. Silvia, dr. of 
Silas Ballon, Oct. 25, 1821. Lived at place on the 
west end of his father's farm. Had Silas B., b. Dec. 
22, 1822, m. Josephine, dr. of Esek Buftum, she d. 
May 16, 187 1, he is now in Grand Rapids, Mich., 
has two daughters; Rebecca, b. May 6, 1824; Sa- 
bina, b. Jan. 8, 1826, d. Oct. 12, 1829 ; Philander, b. 
Feb. 9, 1827, is m. and lives in Troy, N. Y. ; James, 
b. Feb. 9, 1830, lives in Keene, and has two children ; 
Susanna, b. June 13, 1832. He d. Feb. 9, 1857, aged 
57 ; she d. March 19, 1857, aged 6'$>. 

Enoch Boycc — Silas — Paul — m. widow Olive 
Stuart, dr. of Reuben Bowen, April 28, 1823. Lived 
on his father's place. Had eight children, viz. : 
x\ldis, b. Nov. 22, 1823 ; Denzel, b June 2, 1825 ; 
Amanda, b. June 7, 1827 ; Lucena, b. April 7, 1829 ; 
Luana, b. Feb. 13, 1832; Alaric A., b. Feb. 12, 
1834; Adaline, b. April 10, 1836. Cordelia, b. May 
12,1839. He d. 1874 ; she d. Dec. 20, 1846, aged 49. 

Paul Boycc — Silas — Paul — m. Hannah Hana- 
ford, of Peterboro'. He removed to New Ipswich ; 
was a tin peddler. 

yacoh Boycc — Silas — Paul — ist m., April 9, 
1829, Oli^e, dr. of Russell Ballon; 2d m. Vilroy, dr. 
of Job Whitcomb, of Swansey, April 4, 1844. First 
lived on the Benson place; removed to Tro3s 1855, 
and thence to Berlin, Mass., 1871, where he now 



336 HISTORY OF THE 

resides. Olive d. Oct. 8, 1842. Had by Olive: 
Francis R., b. May 26, 183 1 ; and by Vilroy had 
Anna O., b. July 23, 1848; and Charles E., b. May 

4, 1852. 

John Dix Boycc — John — John — Paul — ist m. 

Amy, dr. of Jared Ballou. He lived on the Joseph 

Jaseph place. She d. June 11, 1872, and he 2d m. 

the widow of John Meads. No children. He d. 

1883. Had his name changed by striking out the 

word Dix : 

He refused to leave his expected mate 
When the others went to a western state, 
Preferring always what was sure 
To uncertain things that oft allure. 

BRIGHAM. 

Elisha Bn'o/iam lived on the Abraham Arnold 
place from 181 1 to about 1835 ; thence he removed to 
the Jonathan Sweet farm, where he died. He was 
unmarried. His sister Betsey lived with him. 

At auction sales, and at prices high. 
Much worthless stuft' he used to buy ; 
Qiiite often he would raise the bid. 
If rum was for the one that did. 

BRITTON. 

Dr. Martin Britton was a practising physician in 
town in i8io-'ii ; was the predecessor of Dr. Park- 
hurst, and lived in the corner-house opposite Pere- 
grine Wheeler's. He died while on a journey to the 
west, 181 1. 

BROWN. 

Abraham Broxvn was f. s. on L. 20, R. 8. Sold 
to Benjamin Buffum, and removed to Swansey, 1788. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 337 

yaines Brown m. Sarah Aldrich. He came from 
Gloucester, R. I., in 1777, and bought of John Dandley 
the farm now owned by Preston L. Freeman. He built 
the house now on the premises, 1787. Had Hannah, 
b. July 10, 1771, m., May 26, 1790, Rufus Kelton ; 
Sarah, b. April 2, 1775, m. George Kelton; James, 
b. July, 1770, m. Perna Thayer, Aug. 18, 1799, re- 
moved to Troy, N. Y. ; Benjamin, b. July 24, 1773 ; 
George, m. Katherina Holbrook, Jan. 21, 1802. 

Austin Brozvn, b. Oct. 20, 1813, m. Susan, dr. of 
Joseph Randall, son of Levi, Jan. 2, 1844. He 
bought the Stephen Buffum farm about 1844 ; lived 
there until 1853, when he removed to Philadelphia, 
where he d. Oct. 28, 1863. Had two children, viz. : 
Emily E., b. Oct. 27, 1845, m. William A. Maynard, 
Esq. ; Mary L., b. Oct. 2, 1847. Mrs. Brown and 
daughter now live in Keene. 

Zohcth Brozvn came from Providence, 1837 : had 
half of the Crooker farm. He lived here a few 
years, and then returned to Providence. 

yoseph IV. Brown, from Winchester, bought the 
Thornton mills about 1864. Had Serussa H. and 
x\ncil ; and by his second wife had Omer H. and 
five others. No record. He removed to Brookfield, 
Mass., about 1870. 

Omer H. Brown m., Aug. 5, 1873, Lucy A., dr. 
of Elisha Bolles ; lives near tlie Thornton mills. 
Had tour children, viz. : Viola A., b. Nov. 26, 1873 ; 
Josephine AL, b. Sept. 25, 1875; Eva E., b. Dec. 
26, 1877 ; Flossie G., b. July i, 1882. 



33^ HISTORY OF THE 

BRYANT. 

Caft. Daniel C. Bryant ist m. (name unknown) ; 
2d m. Susanna Byam. He came from Templeton, 
and lived first on the Richard Peters place, and from 
thence removed to the Ebenezer Cole place, near the 
town pound, and afterwards at various places in town. 
Was a blacksmith, and was captain of the Richmond 
company that went to the defence of the northern 
frontier in the war of 1812. Had by his first wife : 
Sally, m. Luther Cass; Elizabeth, ist m. Applin, 2d 
m. Daniel Ellis. By Susanna : Chandler, b. Dec. 26, 
1788 : Calvin ; Chauncey, d. in Keene ; Samuel, d. 
in Pennsylvania ; Carlton, d. in Michigan ; Thomas, 
d. in Charlestown, N. H. She d. Oct. 5, 1843, aged 
82 ; he d. April, 1840, aged 79. 

Chandler Bryant — Daniel C. — m. Mary, dr. of 
Daniel Cass, jr., was a blacksmith, and lived on 
the Rufus Whipple place. He d. March 21, 1875; 
she d. April 21, 1872. Had Susan M., b. Jan. 15, 
1813 ; Daniel C, b. 1815, d. young; John A., b. 
March 9, 1819 ; Lydia C, b. March 6, 1825; S. 
Rosina, b. 1827, d. 1844; Jonathan C, b. Aug. 17, 

1833- 

Calvin Bryant — Daniel C. — m., Feb. 27, 1812, 
Susanna, dr. of Ananias Aldrich. Lived on the 
Ananias Aldrich farm until about 1845, when he re- 
moved to the Samuel Carpenter place, and from 
thence to the George Buffum farm, where he d. June 5, 
1864 ; she d. June 15, 1880. Had Hiram, b. Aug. 3, 
1813 ; Nathaniel, b. Feb. 13, 1817 ; Diancy, b. Nov. 
18, 1818, m. John W. Starkey ; Calvin, b. July 4, 
1821 ; Luther, b. Oct. 2, 1823, d. Dec. 29, 1838; 



j 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 339 

Mary Ann, b. Oct. lO, 1826, m. Samuel Willard 
Eliza Ann, b. Dec. i, 1828, m. John Scott, jr. 
Angela, b. Dec. i, 1830, m. N. G. Woodbury 
Alphreda, b. May 6, 1833, m. H. Foster Thayer 
Almarinda, b. June 21, 1835, m. Samuel Ball. 

Chaunccy Bryant — Daniel C. — m. Harriet Un- 
derwood; lived in Keene. Had James U., William 
C, and Eliza A., m. Joseph S. Garner, of Gardner. 
He d. 1861 ; she d. 1836. 

'John A. Bryant — Chandler — Daniel C. — ist 
m., Nov. 25, 1847, Mary, dr. of Joseph Randall; she 
d. 1854. 2d m. Angenette Carey. Had by Mary : 
Sarah Rosin a, b. 1849, ""•• Henry Buss, of Marlboro'. 
Had by Angenette : Frank and Elsie. He lives in 
Winchester. 

'Jonathan C. Bryant — Chandler — Daniel C. — 
m. Sarah O., dr. of Willard Randall, May 9, 1867 ; 
lives at the Four corners. Had Grace L., b. March 
16, 1868. 

Hiram Bryant — Calvin — Daniel C. — ist m. 
Sarah M., dr. of Nathan Bullock, March 16, 1845 ; 
2d m. Azubah, dr. of John Martin, April 23, 1857 ; 
3d m. widow Dexter Palmer. Lived on the Samuel 
Carpenter place; also on the George Buffum, jr., 
farm a number of years ; now resides in Swansey. 
Had by Sarah M. : Henry L., Susan L., and Albert. 
Had by widow Palmer; Calvin. Sarah M. d. March 
9, 1854; Azubah d. May 19, 1862. 

Nathaniel Bryant — Calvin — Daniel C. — m. , 
March 7, 1849, Lorinda, dr. of Wyman C. Thayer. 



340 HISTORY OF THE 

He lived on the Wyman Thayer place. Had Lovina 
D., b. Nov. 9, 1849; Lorinda A., b. Oct. 23, 1850; 
Sultena L., b. Feb. 2, 1853; Laurena I., b. Nov. 
24, 1855; Lewis W., b. Dec. 17, 1857, d. Feb. 26, 
1878. He died a few years ago. 

George F. Bryant — Calvin — Daniel C. — m. 
Jane C, dr. of George Taylor; had no children. 
He d. Oct. 7, 1867. His widow m. Elliot Chapman. 



BUCKLEY. 

yohn Buckley, from New York, m. Martha J. 
Anderson, Aug. 4, 1865 ; came to town in 1880. He 
lives east of Tull}^ brook, on a part of the old Capt. 
Boorn farm. Had Suidon, b. June 2, i860. 

BUFFUM. 

'Jedediah and yc>/^(////f/;/, brothers, and Benjamin^ a 
half brother, were sons of Joseph Buftum, of Smith- 
field, who was the fourth in descent from Robert Buf- 
fum, of Salem, in 1634. Moses and Caleb were sons 
of Benjamin, who was a brother of Joseph, all of 
Smithfield, all descendants of Robert, who came from 
England in 1630. The lineage runs thus : Joseph 
and Benjamin, brothers, sons of Benjamin, who was b. 
1686, who was a son of Caleb, b. 1650, who was son 
of the first Robert. 

'Jedediah Biiffum^h. 1737, m. Sarah Taft, sister of 
Nathaniel Taft, Sept. 22, 1757. Settled on L. 9, R. 
6, the farm since occupied by his son Esek and Amos 
Bennett, and now owned by Nathaniel Naromore. 
The large house still standing on the premises was 





Old I'uFFiM House. 



il 



o-^ 



-* .■■'-j-. 



:.. '^ 



#. .fA -'""'"^Fprri^^ 



'*"v 



■ - -i-*^ -.^i^ -A 









Ol.D Corner Stoke (Four Coiners, looking West). See page i'j'j. 



TOWN OF RICHINIOND. 34I 

the second two-story house buiU in town. Came into 
town 1763, was town treasurer from 1773 to 1803, 
and was six times chosen on the board of selectmen. 
He d. 1808; she d. 1815. Had eight children, viz. : 
Esther, b. April 12, 1758, m. Daniel Man; George, 
b. May 13, 1760; Esek, b. April 6, 1763 ; Robert, b. 
March 10, 1765 ; Jedediah, b. April 8, 1767 ; Sarah, 
b. Oct. 22, 1769, m. Verney Gaskill ; William, b. 
June 4, 1772 ; Candace, b. Jan. 29, 1776, m. Dr. 
Amos Howe. Esther, George, and Esek were born 
in Smithfield. 

George Duffiim — Jedediah — ist m. Deliverance 
Winslow, June 13, 1781 ; 2d m. widow Hannah Col- 
burn. First lived on L. 19, R. 7, and then next on the 
Peter Holbrook place, L. 19, R. 8, and lastly had the 
farm now owned by Orlan Whipple, the house on 
which he built about 1815. Hed. July 30, 1843, aged 
83; Deliverance d. Sept. 27, 1824, aged 65. Had 
eleven children, viz. : Lydia, b. Feb. 24, 1782, m. 
Elias Taylor; Hannah, b. Oct. 26, 1784, d. Jan. 14, 
1801 ; Joseph, b. May 10, 17S6 ; George, b. May 30, ' 
1788; Anna, b. Sept. 29, 1790, m. Nathaniel 
Naromore ; Jedediah, b. Nov. 24, 1792; Mijamin, 
b. Feb. 18, 1795 ; Thankful, b. May 26, 1797, m. 
Otis Corbin ; William, b. Oct. 5, 1799, d. Oct. 14, 
1801 ; Job,b. Sept. 5, 1803, d.June 3, 1810 ; Dilla,b. 
June 9, 1806, d. June 4, 1853, aged 47. 

Esek Buffum — Jedediah — m. Lucretia, dr. of 
William Cook. He bought the James Westcoat farm, 
the place now owned by Ozial Ballou. Lived there 
until his father's death, 1808, when he moved to 
the old homestead, where he lived until his death, 



34^ ■ HISTORY OF THE 

Dec. 31, 1831, aged 69; she d. Oct. 9, 1855, aged 
88. Had six children, viz. : Lovina, b. Nov. 29, 
1786, m. Jona. Rawson, Esq. ; James, b. Nov. 7, 
1788; Sarah, b. May 13, 1791, m. Nathaniel Whip- 
ple; Priscilla, b. Aug. 2, 1793, m. Silas Buffum ; 
Betsey, b. May 9, 1802, m. Benjamin Crooker, jr. ; 
Lucretia, b. Aug. 5, 1804, m. Amos Bennett. 

Robert Buffum — Jedediah — m., June 28, 1787, 
Lucy, dr. of Dan Whipple. Lived on the place 
since occupied by his son David, and now owned by 
Stephen W. Williams. Had eight children, viz. : 
Sally, m. Josiah Rawson, 1804 ; David, b. July, 1793 ; 
Stephen, b. 1796; Dan., b. 1798: Lucy, b. Oct. 13, 
1800, m. Ballon Swan; Betsey, b. 1802, m. Henry 
Benson ; Eunice, b. 1802 ; Czarina, b. 1804, unmar- 
ried, d. Nov. 28, 1834, aged 30. He d. 181 1 ; she d. 
April 28, 1846, aged 76. 

'Jedediah Btffuvi.jr . — Jedediah — m.Oct. 28, 1787, 
Olive, dr. of Jonathan Gaskill. Lived with his father 
• and died by suicide, June 29, 1789. Had by Olive 
one child, Olive, b. March 3, 1789, m. Samuel Pick- 
ering ; had b}^ Abigail, dr. of Jonathan Cook, Jededi- 
ah, b. April 7, 1785. 

Jedediah Buffum jd — Jedediah — Jedediah -- m. 
Nancy Wilder, dr. of Levi Wilder, of Lancaster, 
Mass., and sister of the late S. V. S. Wilder, of 
Bolton. Lived on the farm now owned by Dennis 
Harkness. Built the large house and barn now 
standing on the place. Removed to Winchester, 
1841. Had seven children, viz. : Sampson W., 
b. Aug. 16, 1S07 ; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 2, 1810; Jede- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 343 

diah, b. Feb. 27, 1813 ; Mary Ann, b. June 27, 1S15 ; 
d. Oct. 8, 1832; Caleb, b. May 6, 1819; Benjamin, 
b. April 2, 1821 ; Lafayette, b. June 9, 1825. He and 
his wife both died in Winchester. 

Sanifson W. Bujfuni, son of the above Jedediah 
3d, was educated at Thomas Fry's school in Bolton. 
Was principal of an academy at Patterson, N. J. ; 
finally settled in Winchester, and has been widely 
known for the interest he has taken in agriculture gen- 
erally, but more particularly for his efforts in the im- 
provement of neat stock. He is deacon of the Con- 
"•reoational church. 

'Jedediah Buffmn, son of the above Jedediah 3d, m. 
Maria, dr. of Elijah Harkness. He removed to Win- 
chester ; was a farmer and carpenter ; was a soldier 
in the late war in the 14th N. H. Had two sons, viz. : 
Frank H., who has been a minister, but is now on the 
editorial staff' of the Boston Herald', the other son, 
Julius, is a Methodist minister. He and his wife are 
both dead. 

William Buff inn — Jedediah — ist m. Joanna Ar- 
nold, Sept. 29, 1791 ; 2d m. Mar}- Arnold, March 11, 
1799, both drs. of Elijah Arnold, Esq., of Smithfield. 
Had the place next north of his father, since occupied 
by his son Esek. Kept the first store in tiie middle 
of the town, established b}^ his father, 1795. Received 
an injury to his head from which he never fully recov- 
ered, causing partial insanity. He d. Dec. 9, 1859, 
aged S3; Mary d. Nov. 21, 1840. Had by Joanna, 
Candace, m. Richard Bowen ; by Mary had Sarah, 
b. April 27, 1801, m. Benoni Ballon; Esek, b. Oct. 
1803. 



344 HISTORY OF THE 

Joseph Buffimi — George — Jedediah — m. , May 
31, 1810, Judith, dr. of Ananias Aldrich, and lived 
on the Peter Holbrook place, where his father had 
resided. Had Willard, b. July 26, 181 1, d. Sept. 20, 
1831 ; Hannah, b. Sept. 30, 1813, d. Oct. 22, 1815 ; 
Joseph R., b. Dec. 8, 1815 ; Mary A., b. June 26, 
1818, m. Luther Cheney, d. May 24, 1841 ; Fanny, 
b. Sept. 15, 1820, m. Joseph Starkey, d. March 24, 
1861 ; George, b. April 19, 1823 ; Ananias, b. Nov. 
II, 1S26 ; Silence M., b. Aug. 2, 1829, d. July 19, 
1833 '•> Angela A., b. Feb. 10, 1833, m. Asahel Ben- 
nett ; Thomas W., b. Oct. 13, 1835, ^1. Nov. 10, 
1836. He d. Jul}^ 16, 1861 ; she d. April 11, 1861, 

George BuffuDi — George — Jedediah — m., Jan. 
10, 181 1, Rhoda, dr. of Joseph Newell ; lived on the 
place afterwards occupied by Josiah Lawrence, He 
d., by suicide, 1817 ; she d. Dec. 31, 1864. Had 
two children, viz, : Job, who now lives in Boston ; 
and Rhoda, who m. Oratus Verry. The widow 
Buftum 2d m. Stephen Rice, of Chesterfield. 

yedediah Bitffuni — George — Jedediah — m. Ruth 
Buxton ; lived on the Obed Bolles place ; removed to 
Marlboro', Vt. ; returned and built the house where 
N. Naromore lives ; returned again to Marlboro' 
about 1842, and from thence went to Michigan. Had 
twelve children, viz. : Emil3% b. 1815 ; Thankful, 
Eliza, Fanny, Lydia, Thankful, George, Lucinda, 
Ruth C, Margaret, Mary Jane, and Fransina, b. 
1841. 

Mijamin Buffum — George — Jedediah — m, Anna 
Davis, dr, of Wm. Weeks' wife ; lived on the Obed 
Bolles place, also on the Alfred Saben farm. The 
famih' moved to Shoboygan Falls, Wis., about 1S50, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 345 

and left him behind. Had Sanford, Priscilla, 
Abysena, John, George William, and Julia Ann, 
who d. young. George William is a large land 
owner in Iowa. 

yoseph R. Biiffum, — Joseph — George — Jedediah 
— m., May 9, 1842, Olive, dr. of Timothy Pickering, 
Esq. Had a part of his father's farm, on which he 
built a house, the place now occupied by George H. 
Taylor. He left his family and went to Ohio in 1862, 
and has never returned. Had Helen J., b. Dec. 
14, 1842, m. Joseph White, of Athol ; Mary E., b. 
April 14, 1847, m. Wales B. Bennett. Olive 2d m. 
Charles Norwood. 

George Buffum — Joseph — George — Jedediah — 
m. Sarah Ruffle; lived in Keene, where he d. in a 
fit, June, 1846. 

yames Btiffum — Esek — Jedediah — m. Caroline, 
dr. of Simeon Cook ; lived on the James Cook place, 
now owned by Edson Starkey, Esq. Had ten chil- 
dren, viz. : Louisa, b. Sept. 29, 181 i,m. Rev. Elijah 
Barrows; Emeline, b. June 29, 1813, m. Nathaniel 
Adams, lives in Marshheld, Vt. ; Erastus, b. Aug. 7, 
1815, d. in Boston; Montraville, b. Dec. 20, 1817, 
lives in Leominster; Carlon, b. Jan. 27, 1820, is a 
grocer in Boston, lives in Melrose; Lovina, b. Jan. 
30, 1822, d. Sept. 14, 1841 ; James, b. Aug. 14,1824; 
Caroline, b. Sept. 3, 1826, ist m. Alvin Starkey, 2d 
m. Asa Piper; Esek, b. June 14, 1829, d. June 3, 
1882; Flavilla, b. Jan. 12, 1834; d. Dec. 31, 1844. 
He d. Oct. 21, 1857, aged 69; she d. Oct. 9, 1857, 
aged 65. 

David Biiffum — Robert — Jedediah — m. , March 
10, 1813, Betsey Ann, dr. of Daniel Man. He had 



V 



346 HISTORY OF THE 

his father's place. Had no children. He d. May 6, 
1873, aged 79; she d. May 19, 1871, aged 78. He 
became a large land owner and one of the more 
wealthy men of the town. 

Col. Stephen Buffum — Robert — Jedediah — m. , 
Nov. 3, 1816, Hannah, dr. of Dr. Ebenezer Swan; 
lived on the place now owned by Henr}^ Martin. The 
house was moved by him from the rear of the old 
Baptist meeting-house. He was out in the war of 
1812, and was afterwards colonel of the 6th N. H. 
Reg. He d. June 16, 1843, aged 47 ; she d. April 
18, 1841, aged 41. Had six children, viz. : Nanc}^ 
d. young ; James Monroe, b. 1819, d. Feb. 21, 1839; 
Lucy, b. March, 1823, ist m. John Parkhurst, jr., 2d 
m. A. J. F. Remington, March 31, 1847; Andrew 
J., b. April 18, 1828; Chastina, b. March 29, 1831 ; 
Polly, b. Feb. 22, 1833, m. Jarvis Ingalls. 

Dan. Buffum — Robert — Jedediah — m., Feb. 14, 
1819, Nellie, dr. of Cyrus Garnsey ; has lived on the 
Garnsey place. He was out in the war of 1812, and 
went to the defence of Portsmouth ; is now the oldest 
man in town, and draws a pension. Had seven chil- 
dren, viz. : Larina, b. Aug. 16, 1S19, m. William 
Wright, Esq. ; David, b. Feb. 7, 1821 ; Amos, b. 
March 13, 1824; Lucy, b. Feb. 13, 1826, m. Simon 
Lawrence, d. Jan. 30, 1869; Sally, b. Sept. 17, 1828, 
m. William Goodnow ; Mariette, b. Feb. 13, 1830, 
1st m. A. C. Prescott, who d. Oct. 2, 1858, leaving a 
son, Frederick A., b. Sept. 20, 1858, 2d m. Charles 
H. Doolittle, March 14, 1865 ; Cyrus G., b. Oct. 10, 
1832. She d. Aug. 4, 1864, aged 68. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 347 

Caft. David Buffiivi — Dan. — Robert — Jedediah 
— m. Lurana, dr. of John Scott; lived first in the 
house next west of his father's, which he built, and 
from thence removed to West Swansey, where he 
engaged in the manufacture of furniture until 1862, 
when he enlisted in the i6th N. H. Reg., and was 
promoted to captain of Co. I, and was under General 
Banks in the Louisiana campaign ; was put in com- 
mand of a brigade in the retreat from Port Hudson. 
He d. of disease at New Orleans, June 19, 1863. 
His remains were returned to Richmond, and im- 
pressive services were held at his funeral in the 
Brick church. Had one daughter, Helen E. E., m. 
Dr. Earl Evans, of Winchester, with whom Mrs. 
Buffum now resides. 

Cafit. Amos Duffuin — Dan. — Robert — Jedediah 
m., July 10, 1845, Betsey, dr. of John Barrus ; lived 
in Templeton when the war began. He enlisted 
first in the 25th Reg. Mass. Vols., and was promoted 
to a lieutenant ; secondly, enlisted in the 36th Reg. 
Mass. Vol., and was promoted to captain of Co. G. 
He was killed at Petersburg, June 18, 1864, aged 40. 
Had one daughter, who m., and lives at Templeton. 

Cyrus G. Buffuni — Dan. — Robert — Jedediah — 
m. \Az7AQ^ Witt, of Hubbardston, and lived in Temple- 
ton when the war commenced. Enlisted in the 36th 
Mass. ; was corporal of Co. D, and d. at Louisville, 
Ky., Aug. 12, 1863. 

Esek Bnfwn — William — Jedediah — ist m. Al- 
mira Sallbrd, of Warwick, R. L ; 2d m. Harriet 
Keith, of Keene. Lived first in Providence, R. L ; 
lastly, on his father's place in Richmond. He d. 
1844, aged 41 ; Harriet d. 1866, aged 64. By 



348 HISTORY OF THE 

Almira he had Samuel, who lives in the city of New 
York, By Harriet he had Napoleon B., enlisted in 
14th N. H., and d. in the service ; Mary, m. Foster; 
Josephine, m. Silas B. Boyce ; James, enlisted in ist 
Reg. H. A., lives in Swansey ; Jane,m. Alfred Tolman. 

'Jonaihan Buffum^ son of Joseph Buffum, of Smith- 
field, settled on L. 4, R. 6, about 1763 ; made a clear- 
ing and built a log-house, and sold the same to 
Nathan Harkness, 1773, and removed to Grafton, N. 
H. Had six children. 

Moses Buffum, son of Benjamin Buffum, of Smith- 
field, m., Dec. 22, 1779, Sarah, dr. of Jonathan Gas- 
kill. He lived on the west side of the road, south of 
Jesse Bolles', and north of the Caleb Buffum place. 
Had three children. 

Caleb Buff'um, brother of Moses, ist m., Aug. 15, 
1784, Tamer Gaskill, dr. of Jonathan Gaskill ; 2d m., 
March 25, 1787, Hannah, a sister of Tamer. He 
bought of Moses Cumstock his farm, L. 6, R. 4. 
The house was moved by Jesse Bolles years ago, and 
the same is now occupied by Edwin, Jesse's youngest 
son. He d. 1803, aged 45. His widow 2d m. 
Stephen Raymond, of Royalston ; she d. 1856, aged 
87. Had six children, viz. : Polly, b. 1787, m. 
Calvin Forbes; Caleb, b. 1789; Silas, b. 1790, m. 
Priscilla, dr. of Esek Buffum, removed to Vermont ; 
James, b. 1792, ist m. Ruth Bliss, 2d m. Frances A. 
Fifield, he lives in Keene, aged 90; Elizabeth, m. 
Enoch Metcalf, of Royalston ; Benjamin, b. 1799, m. 
Sarah Bliss, he lives in Royalston ; and Gaskill, who 
probably died young. 

Benjamin Buffum, son of Joseph, of Smithfield, 
and half brother of Jedediah, m. Rhoda Scott; lived 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



349 



on the John Wing place, L. ii, R. 2, next north 
of Silas Jillson's. He removed to the Jonathan 
Thurber place, 1836, and there died soon after. Had 
no children. 

BULLOCK. 

The ancestor of the families of this name in town 
was Christopher^ who came from Rehobath early in 
the history of the town, and settled on the place 
known as the Cass Bullock farm. He was well in 
years when he came, and had a son Jeremiah, and 
brothers Nathan and David, and cousin Moulton. 
These brothers lived in town a few years, and then re- 
moved to Royalston, and finally went west. Of Na- 
than we only know that he was in the service a while 
in the Revolutionary war. 

'Jeremiah BuUoek\ son of Christopher, b. in Cum- 
berland, Aug. 7, 1748, m. Adah Cass, dr. of Deacon 
John Cass, Dec. 22, 1771. After the father's death 
he continued on the homestead, and finally he d. with 
his son Chistopher, in Winchester. Had ten chil- 
dren, viz. : Nathan, b. 1773 ; Lovel, b. April 16, 1775 ; 
Sarah, b. Oct. 7, 1776; Adah, b. June 5, 1778, d. July 
16, 177S; Joel, b. May 16, 1779: Cass, b. Nov. 10, 
1781 ; Jeremiah, b. July 3, 1783 ; Adah, b. Feb. 7, 
1786; Christopher, b. June i, 1788; Susannah, b. 
July 25, 1790. Of these only Nathan and Cass re- 
mained in town. 

JVatluin Jhdlock — Jeremiah — Christopher — m. 
Sarah Jillson, dr. of Paul. Feb. 16, 1804. He lived 
on the farm now owned by Watrous Garnsey, which 
was settled by Abraham Man, whose wife was a sister 
of Mr. Bullock's mother. Had eleven children, viz. ; 



350 HISTORY OF THE 

Adah C, b. Dec. 23, 1804, m. Job Martin ; Anna C, 
b. Sept. 5, 1806; Martha C, b. May 16, 1808; Ra- 
chel J., b. Feb. 27, 1810 ; Esther J., b. Oct. 5, 1811 ; 
Nathan H., b. May 13, 1813, d. about 1830: Sarah 
M., b. Dec. 23, 1814, m. Hiram Bryant; Mehita B., 
b. Jan., 1817 ; Andrew J., b. Aug. 27, 1819 ;Paul J., b. 
Jan. 14, 1822; Susan L., b. Jan. 28, 1825. None 
living in town at present. He d. May 18, i860, aged 
86 ; she d. July 12, 1868, aged 87. 

Cass Bullock — Jeremiah — Christopher — m. Han- 
nah Perry of Warwick. He lived on his father's 
place. He d. Dec. i, 1854, aged 73; she d. May 
22, 1862, aged 85. Had Hannah, b. 1805, m. Martin 
Ellis ; Cass, b. 1803 : Asa, b. July 29, 1807. 

Andrezv y. Bu//ock—Nd.thnn — Jeremiah — Chris- 
topher — m. Newell. He removed to Woonsocket, 
R. I., where he still resides. 

I^attl y. Bullock — Nathan — Jeremiah — Christo- 
pher — lives with his sister in Gardner. Not m. 

Cass Bullock, Jr. — Cass — Jeremiah — Christopher 
— m. Candace, dr. of Dea. Martin Ellis. Lived on the 
old homestead until he removed to Swansey, 1869. 
He d. Sept. 22, 1875. Had one child, Emmerancy, 
b. Sept. S, 1834, "''• Andrew B. Cook, and lives in 
Swansey. 

Asa Bullock — Cass — Jeremiah — Christopher — 
1st m. Tamasin, dr. of Jonathan Cass: 2d m. Amy, 
dr. of Robert Swan. He lived on the Deacon Ellis 
farm, the place now occupied bv his son Henry. He ^ 
d. Aug. 19, 1874; Tamasin d. Aug. 28, 1839. ^^^ 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 351 

by Tamasin : Asa H., b. Jan. 9, 1833 ; had by Amy : 
Henry, b. May 2, 1849, lives on his father's place 
with his mother; Elizabeth H., b. Aug. 5, 1853, m. 
John P. Nutting. 

Asa H. Bullock^ son of Asa, m. Mary, dr. of 
Stephen Randall, Oct. 15, 1855. Lives on the Major 
John Cass place, and has in connection therewith the 
John Starkey farm. Had five children, viz. : Stephen, 
A., b. Feb. 9, 1857 ; Luther C, b. Dec. 26, 1858, d. 
March 11, 1859; Mary D., b.June 25, i860, d. Dec. 
20, 1864; Frank R., b. Oct. 23, 1861, d. Sept. 8, 
1862 ; Myron E., b. Nov. 28, 1866, d. March 30, 1869. 
Mary, his wife, d. Oct. 2, 1884. 

Stephen A. BiUlock^ son of Asa H., m. Emma A. 
Thayer, April 9, 1879. ^"^^ Frank S., b. Jan. 6, 
1880. Stephen A, lives with his father. 

David Bullock m. Mary, dr. of Rev. Maturin Bal- 
lon, Oct. 20, 177 1. He appears to have settled on or 
near the farm where Silas Ballon, the poet lived, also 
to have lived a short time at the middle of the town. 
About 1785 he removed to Royalston, and finally re- 
moved to York state. Left no record of family. 

Moullon Bullock m. Prudence. The place of his 
settlement in tow^n is not known. Was on the board 
of selectmen, 1773. Removed to Royalston and set- 
tled on the place next south of his brother, Hugh Bul- 
lock. Had three children, Althea, b. May 22, 1765 ; 
Nathaniel, b. April 19, 1767 ; Olive, b. April 20, 
1769. He d. 1819, aged 75 years. 

Nathaniel Bullock^ son of Moulton. m. Feb. 28, 
1790, Priscilla, dr. of James Ballon. He lived in 



352 HISTORY OF THE 

Royalston. She d. March lo, 1793. Had Nathan- 
iel, b. 1792. 

Nathaniel Bullock, Jr., son of Nathaniel, m. Lo- 
vina, dr. of Seth Ballon, jr. Removed to Readsboro', 
Vt., where he died a few years ago. 

BUMP. 

yacob Bump, b. 1738, in Mendon, m. Dinah Slew, 
of Smithfield, Sept. 29, 1760. Was among the first 
settlers. Came from Smithfield i^6i~'2, occupied for 
three or four years L. 6, R. 6, recently owned by 
Jonathan Cass. His house was near Muddy pond, the 
south end of Cass pond. He removed to the place now 
occupied by George B. Handy about 1766 ; he built the 
house now standing on the premise*, from thence re- 
moved to Swansey, on the place afterwards owned by 
David and Virgil Holbrook. Returned to town about 
1S05, and bought the Maturin Ballon farm, the place 
now owned by Noah Perry. He was out in the old 
French and Indian war three months, in i759-'6o. 
He d. Dec. 17, 1829, in his 92d year; she d. Nov. 
25, 1818, in the 78th year of her age. Had ten chil- 
dren, the oldest was born before his first settlement in 
town, viz. : Stephen, b. Jan. 30, 1761 ; Asa, b. Jan. 
29, 1763 ; Laban, b. Aug. 29, 1765 ; Lavina, b. May 
9, 1767, ist m. Richard Sweet, 2d m. Nathan Bowen ; 
Wanton, b. July 9, 1769; Rhoda, b. x\pril 25, 1771, 
ist m. Jacob Boyce, 2d m. Philemon Parker; Eliza- 
beth, b. May 3, 1775, m. David Martin; Barnet, b. 
June 27, 1779, "^- Pbebe Bowen ; Jacob, b. May 12, 
1783, m. Lydia Bowen ; Silvia, m. Stephen Boorn. 
The sons all removed to the Butternuts, which is in 
Otsego Co., N. Y., about 90 miles south-west from 
Albany, and to Harvard, in the same state. 



TOWN OF- RICHMOND. 353 

BUTTERFIELD. 

Erasmus BtUterJleld, from Westmoreland, m. Esther 
Sweetser, of Marlboro'. Lived in the house with 
Timothy Pickering. Was here from 1819 to 1824 ; 
was a lawyer, the only one that has ever taken up 
his abode here. Had John, d. March 2, 1864; 
Charles ; Harriet, who m. Samuel D. Allen ; and 
a daughter, Sarah, who m. William Whittemore, of 
Fitzwilliam. 

BUXTON. 

Elijah Buxton m. Deliverance, dr. of Elder Na- 
thaniel Bolles. Lived on the Obed Bolles place, 
1823 ; removed to Reading, Mass. 



CAPRON. 

Caft. Oliver Caproii, son of Banfield Capron, 
of Cumberland, b. July i, 1736, m. Esther Free- 
man, came into town 1765. He was f. s. on 
the Cheney farm, now owned by St. Clair, L. 
24, R. 12, next to the Warwick line; was captain 
of a company that marched to Cambridge soon after 
the Concord fight, and was at the battle of Bunker 
Hill ; and was also captain of a company that 
went to the relief of Ticonderoga, 1777 ; was colonel 
of a regiment of militia, and was also first represen- 
tative of the town to the General Court, and a justice 
of the peace. He removed from town to Canada, 
but returned to Swansey, and there d., 1816, while 
living with his daughter who m. Calvin Wright, aged 
80. Had seven children, viz. : Nathan, Otis, Oliver, 
m. Hannah Work; Thaddeus, b. Dec. 6, 1764; 
23 



354 HISTORY OF THE 

Alpheus, b. July 21, 1770; Hannah, b. April 6, 
1767 ; and Elizabeth. 

Otis Capron — Oliver — ist m. Judith Gale, by 
whom he had six children ; 2d m. Polly King, and by 
her had Gilbert, Sarah, Judith, b. Dec. 13, 1801, m. 
Nicholas Cook ; Alpha, Luther M., Polly, m. Robin- 
son Bolles ; Rev. Edmund Capron, and Martha. 
He lived a while on the Caleb Curtis place ; resided 
also a longer time in Winchester, where he died. 

Alpheus Capron — Oliver — m. Lucy Stanley, of 
Swansey. He bought, 1818, the cloth-dressing works 
at North Richmond. Had Elon, b. June 18, 1810 ; 
Irene, b. 1812, m. Ambrose Swan ; Almena, b. 1814. 
He d. 1822, aged 52 ; she d. May, 1866, aged 85. 

Elon Capron — Alpheus — Oliver — m. , Jan. i , 
1834, Almarine, dr. of Robert Swan ; removed to 
Peterboro'. Had Lizzie, b. Oct. 21, 1834; Alpheus, 
b. March, 1837. He d. in Winchester, May 7, 1855, 
aged 45. His widow resides in Winchester. 

CARGILL. 

yamcs Cargill, b. in Cumberland, April 22, 1762, 

m. Chloe , b. in Westminster, Vt., Sept. 28, 

1766. He bought L. 6, R. 3, the place since owned 
by John Martin, Kinsman, and others. Had eight 
children. Pie removed to Pennsylvania, 1814. 

CARKIN. 

William O. Carkin, b. in Tyngsboro', Mass., ist 
m. Ellen Stiles; 2d m., July 4, 1868, Mary Jane 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 355 

Dearborn, of Maine. He moved to the Colonel Jill- 
son place, 1879, where he now resides. Had by Ellen : 
Allie W., b. June 3, 1862; Willie, b. March 29, 
1866. Had by Mary Jane: Frank E., b. May 14, 
1869; Ida G., b. April 7, 1872; Isaac A., b. April 
13' 1875 5 Adah Jane, b. Jan. i, 1876. 



CARPENTER. 

Samuel Carpenter^ of Rehobath, bought of Jabez 
Bowen, L. 14. R. 7, 1784. He was f. s. on the 
South wick, or Hubbard Reed farm, now owned by 
Ebenezer Cook ; built the house now standing on the 
premises. He d. about 1800. Had Sarah, Jede- 
diah, Samuel, and probably some others. 

ycdcdiah Carpenter — Samuel — m. Sally Hill. 
He lived on the William Buftum place about 1805. 

Daniel Carpenter^ probably a brother of Samuel, 
was f. s. on the Reuben Martin farm. He bought of 
Rev. Isaac Kenney his farm, L. 7, R. 8, the old 
Cumstock place, and sold the same to Nathan Hark- 
ness about 1805. Had Timothy, Hannah, Mary, 
Daniel, and Isaac Kenney. 

'John JL. Carpenter, son of Sidney Carpenter, of 
Swansey, m. Alfreda (Martin) Fisher, Oct., 1875. 
He lives on the Jacob Sweet place. 

CARROLL. 

Lucius Carrol, son of Elvira Barrus, was brought 
up by Charles Whipple : he lives on the Enoch Whip- 
ple place, m. Harriet Robbins, of Warwick. He is 
now divorced ; has no children. 



356 HISTORY Oh THE 

CARTER. 

Wtllia7)i T. Carter, b. in Leeds, Eng., 181 2, came 
to this country in 1825 ; was thirteen years in the 
United States army, including service in the late war. 
He ist m. Ann McCormick, by whom he had six 
children; 2d m. Elizabeth Corcoran, widow of Henry 
M. Smith. Came to town 1881 ; lives on the place 
first settled by Stephen Kimpton, known as the John 
Pickering, or Seth Curtis place. Had by Elizabeth : 
Lilla, b. Aug. i, 1867, d. April 2, 1S83 ; Walter E., 
b. March 14, 1869. 

CASS. 

Three by the name of Cass, John, Daniel, and 
Luke, were among the first settlers. John came from 
Cumberland, where he resided after his marriage un- 
til his removal to Richmond. Daniel and Luke were 
from Smithfield. What relation these may have had 
to each other does not appear. 

The John- Cass JFamily, 

Dea. yohn_Cflss, then of Mendon, m., Feb. 18, 
1736, Alice Brown, of Bellingham. Was f. s. on the 
farm which has been occupied since his time by Tim- 
othy and Ezra Cole, Simeon Cook, and is now owned 
by Perley Amadon, L. 8, R. 9. He was the first 
innkeeper in town. Jedediah Buftum's family, when 
he removed to town in the spring of 1763, was enter- 
tained at his house. They came with an ox-team, 
probably through Winchester or Warwick. At his 
house was held the first town meeting, and Mr. Cass 
was the moderator. Had Joseph, b. 1738; Mar}^ b. 
Aug. 15, 1742 ; Alice, b. Feb. 6, 1743 ; John, b. Jan. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 357 

I, 1745 ; David, b. Aug. 9, 1747 ; Hannah, b.Jan. 26, 
1748, d. 1750; Adah, b. July 16, 1750, m. Jeremiah 
Bullock; Ziba, b. July 20, 1755; Joel, b. Nov. 22, 
1757 ; and Susanna, m. John Dandley, all born in 
Cumberland. He d. 1802. 

Joseph Cass — John — m. Rachel, dr. of John Mar- 
tin, sr. He settled on the Dan. Buffum farm, L. 9, 
R. II. His house was on the old road south of the 
buildings now on the place. He d. 1800. Whatbecame 
of most of the family does not appear. Children : Jo- 
se])h, Iddo, Hannah, Hosea, Naomi, Margery, Ra- 
chel, Zilpha, Joseph, Nedebiah, and Luke. Joseph 
and some of the others removed to Exeter, N. Y. 
Rachel m. James Work, Zilpha m. Jona. Martin. 

'Joh7i Cass — John — m. Lydia Taft, sister of Na- 
thaniel Taft^ Settled on the farm since owned by 
John Starkey and Asa H. Bullock, L. 13, R. 8. He 
erected a large two-story house on the premises, which 
was taken down a few years ago by N. G. Wood- 
bury, and removed to Keene. He d. April 10, 1828, 
aged 82 ; she d. Feb. 4, 1838, aged '^6. Had twelve 
children, viz.: Ono, b. May 26, 1769; Hannah, b. 
Aug. 26, 1770, m. Asahel Bennett ; John, b. Oct. 31, 
1772; Nathan, b. April 4, 1776, d. Oct. 14, 1778; 
Lydia, b. J[uly i, 1777, m. Otis Cook; Susanna, b. 
Sept. 23, 1779; Silence, b. March 27, 1782 ; Kesiah, 
b. Aug. 3, 1783, 1st m. Aaron Whipple, 2d m. Ben- 
jamin Newell; Molly, b. May 20, 1786; Sarah, b. 
Jan. 6, 1789, m. John Starkey; Mary, b. Oct. 13, 
1790, m. Nathaniel Boorn ; Sally, b. Nov. 9, 1793, 
m. Page. 



35^ HISTORY OF THE 

David Cass — Dea. John — m. Kesiah Arnold, of 
Smithfield, Feb. i6, 1762. Was f. s. on the farm 
now owned by Davis Sprague, L. 5, R. 9. Erected 
the house still standing on the premises, but now in a 
dilapidated condition ; he sold to John Ingersoll about 
1794, and removed from town. Had two children : 
Lydia, and Freelove, m. Timothy Barrus. Ingersoll 
sold to Ebenezer Blanding, and Blanding sold to 
Thomas Goddard. 

yocl Cass — Dea. John — m. Lydia Hix,Jan. 24, 
1779. He appears to have lived with his father and 
had a blacksmith shop. Removed from town about 
1805. Had seven children, viz., John, Alice, Mary, 
Ephraim, Lydia, Joel, and Eunice. He removed to 
the state of N. Y. 

Ono Cass — John — John — ist m. Bethiah Whip- 
ple, Jan. 7, 1796, 2d m. Betsey, dr. of Noah Bisbee, 
Feb. 22, 1816. Had by Bethiah, Lydia, b. April 13, 
1796, m. Carlton Bryant; Amy, b. Feb. 28, 1798. 
His wife Bethiah d. Sept. 16, 1800. He removed to 
Penn. 

Maj. yukn Cass — John — John — m. Sally Eddy 
Potter, April 5, 1795. Lived on the place now owned 
and occupied by Asa H. Bullock, a part of L. 13, R. 
8. He was frozen to death on the old road west of 
the Crooker place, while returning home on the night 
of Jan. 21, 1831. Had an infant son, died; Ono T., 
b. May 20, 1793 ; Polly P., b. Feb. 3, 1800, m. Peleg 
Taft, jr. ; Moses P., b. April 11, 1802 ; Nalhnn, b. 
Jan. 18, 1805, d. April 20, 1806; Almina Eddy, b. 
Feb. 8, 1807, m. Daniel Saben. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 359 

Ono T. Cass — John — John — John — m. Sarah 
B., dr. of Enos Holbrook, Jan. 2, 1830. Was a tan- 
nar and currier; served apprenticeship with Daniel 
Eassett ; carried on business at the tannery at the Four 
corners a while, and then removed to Jackson, Mich. 
Had Isaac H., b. Jan. 27, 1831 ; and John R., b. 
March 31, 1832. He separated from his wife, and 
she went with her father's family to Princeton, 111. 

Moses P. Cass — John — John — John — lived on his 
father's place while he remained in town. Removed 
to Westmoreland about 1850, where he married. 
After the death of his wife he removed to Chesterfield, 
and there died by suicide, Jan., 1883, aged 81. 



The Daniel- Cass Family. 

Daniel Cass, from Smithfield, b. Nov. 29, 1724, 
m., April 7, 1744, Mary Cook. Was f. s. on the 
farm now owned by Jonas Wheeler, L. 7, R. 6. He 
sold to Jaazaniah Barrett, and moved to the next lot 
south, and lived with his son Daniel, 1791. He was 
a large land owner, and the only one of the original 
three Casses who has descendants bearing- the name 
now living in town. Had Samuel, b. Aug. 10, 1746 ; 
Joseph, b. March 31, 1748; Hannah, b. Jan. 10. 1749, 
m. Nathaniel Taft ; Mary, b. March 30, 1752, m. 
Richard Peters; Daniel, b. Oct. 24, 1753 ; Jonathan, 
b. March 31, 1756; Josiah B., b. Sept. 24, 1757; 
Sarah B., b. Nov. 19, 1759, "^- Abner Twitchell ; 
John, b. July 30, 1763 ; Mordica, b. Dec. 23, 1765. 
All the children except John and Mordica were born 
in Smithlield. He d. Oct., 1798, aged 74. 



360 HISTORY OF THE 

Samticl Cass — Daniel — settled on the east part 3f 
his father's farm, known formerly as Orchard hill. 
He probably returned to Rhode Island. 

yoscph Cass — Daniel — ist m., July 12, i77^' 
Mary Estey ; 2d m. Molly Hews, April 4, 1782 ; 3d 
m. Isabella Cass, widow of Luke, 1815. He lived on 
the old road west of Roscoe Weeks', the place first set- 
tled by Azariah Cumstock, and there resided from 
1769 until 1792, when he bought Henry Ingalls' farm, 
where he lived the remainder of his life. Had by 
Mary seven children, and by Molly eight, viz. : by 
Molly : Mary, b. Dec. 5, 1782 ; James, b. March 11, 
1784; Nancy, b. April 8, 1786; Joseph, b. April 12, 
1788; Luther, b. Dec. 6, 1790; Calvin, b. Jan. 22, 
1793 ; Lucy, b. April 25, 1795 ; Nahum, b. June 27, 
1799. 

Daniel Cass, Jr. — Daniel — m. Lydia, dr. of Jona. 
Sweet, March 30, 1781. Lived on the place recently 
occupied by Jonathan Cass. Built the house still 
standing on the place. Had nine children, viz. : Jon- 
athan, b. March 7, 1782 ; Daniel, b. July 30, 1783 ; 
Lydia, b. March 28, 1785, ist m. Abraham Boorn, 2d 
m. Alpheus Cressey ; Marmaduke, b. Oct. 2, 1788, 
d. young ; Phebe, b. May 5, 1791, m. Cyrus Church ; 
Hannah, b. April 9, 1793, m. Coburn : Mary, b. June 
8, 1795, m. Chandler Bryant; Sarah, b. Aug. 20, 
1797, m. Otis Blanding ; Welcome, d. in infancy. 

Jonathan Cass — Daniel — ist m. Zilpah, dr. of 
John Martin, March 21, 1779; 2d m. Lydia Sargent, 
of FitzwilHam. His farm was part of L. 15, R. 4, 
the place where Joseph Swan now lives. He spent 
the last years of his life in FitzwilHam. He d. May 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 361 

II, 1838, aged 82 ; Zilpah d. May 25, 1808. Had by 
Zilpah nine children, viz. : Sarah, b. June 15, 1780, d. 
1798; Martin, b. Dec. 3, 1781 ; Provided, b. Oct. 24, 
1783, m. Gardner; Daniel, b. Jan. 26, 1785; Mary, 
b. Nov. 26, 1786, m. Caleb Garfield ; Jonathan, b. May 

7, 1788, d. Jan. 23, 1818; Hannah, b. March 18, 
1791, m. Michael Perry; Zilpah, b. Nov. 30, 1792, 
m. Lilbiirn Allen ; Otis, b. Aug. 2, 1795. 

yosiah Cass — Daniel — m. Deborah . The 

place of his residence appears to have been on L. 7, 
R. 7, where Roscoe Weeks now lives. He d. Oct. 

8, 1777, leaving one son, Nathan, b. Feb. 19, 1777, 
m. Tirza, dr. of Michael Barrus, June i, 1796; 
lived on his father's place until 1803. 

yo/m Cass — Daniel — m. Esther Wooley, Jan. 3, 
1782; 2d m. Sarah Kelton, of Warwick, Sept. 21, 
1800. His place was on the old road west of Roscoe 
Weeks'. The house was moved to the Four corners, 
about 1814, by George Harkness. He removed from 
town about 1806. By Esther he had Samuel, Esther, 
John, Daniel, and Matthew. 

Mordica Cass — Daniel — ist m. Amy, dr. of 
Jonathan Sweet ; settled first on the Bill Weeks 
place. His house was on the old road. Had twelve 
children, viz : Richard, Silas, Sally, Amy, d. 1849 ' 
Anna, m. Reuben Man ; Sarah, Laban, Nathan, 
Josiah, Jonathan, Luke, and Levi, b. Sept. 25, 1809. 
Mordica 2d m. Man, by whom he had no chil- 
dren. His 2d wife committed suicide, by drowning, 
in a small brook north of Noah Perry's, about 1845, 
near the schoolhouse. He died about 1840. 



362 HISTORY OF THE 

yoscph Cass — Joseph — Daniel — m. . He 

resided on the Henry Ingalls farm, where his father 
had lived, the place now owned by Mrs. Benjamin 
Clark. He d. in Smithfield, R. I., 1827. Had Levi, 
Cordelia, and Joseph. 

Ltithcr Cass — Joseph — Daniel — m. Sarah, dr. 
of Daniel C. Bryant. He lived on the place now 
occupied by his daughter Lavina. Had James, b. 
Dec. 20, 1815 ; Nancy, b. May 5, 1817, d. 18S3 ; 
Lavina, b. Feb. 11, 1819; Elizabeth, b. July 17, 
1821, m. James Longley ; Ozro T., b. Feb. 20, 1823. 
He d. April 11, 1862, aged 71 ; she d. April 15, 
1868, aged 81. 

yanics Cass — Luther — Joseph — Daniel — m., 
Feb. 15, 1848, Mary, dr. of Rufus Taft, of Win- 
chester. He lived on the place with his father, and 
built the house now standing on the premises. He 
d. Oct. 5, 1855. Had James B., b. March 28, 1849; 
Frank L., b. Oct. 12, 1852 ; Edward W., b. Feb. 23, 
1856. Mrs. Cass and family removed to Winchester. 

• 

Ozro T. Cass — Luther — Joseph — Daniel — m., 
Jan. 4, 1852, Harriet L. Hanks, of Endfield, Mass. 
He bought the Deacon Ephraim Hix farm, and built 
the house now standing on the same. He d. July 29, 
1871. Had Charles I:L,b. Oct. 11,1852; Hattie A., 
b. Sept. 17, 1855, d. Nov. 29, 1877; Willie O., b. 
May 27, i860; Luther E., b. Sept. 20, 1862; Lizzie 
S.,'b. Nov. 17, 1864; Fred. W., b. March 30, 1868. 

Charles If. Cass — Ozro T. — Luther — Joseph — 
Daniel — m., July 17, 1879, Lilla Mellen, dr. of 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 363 

Isaac N. Had Hattie, b. April, 1881 ; Harry, b. 
April, 1883. 

Jonathan Cass — Daniel — Daniel — m. Tamasin, 
dr. of Dr. Ebenezer Swan, Jan. i, 1804; lived with 
his father. He d. Dec. 31, 1841 ; she d. March 3, 
1852, aged 66. Had Isaac, b. April, 1805, d. Oct. 

25, 1830 ; Tamasin, b. 1807, m. Asa Bullock; Lydia, 
b. Sept. 4, 1810, m. Daniel Man ; Mary S., b. March 

26, 1813, m. Martin Kingsley ; Phebe, b. Nov. 21, 
1821 ; Amina, b. Dec. 24, 1824, m. Stephen Handy; 
Jonathan, b. Sept. 22, 1827. 

yonathan Cass — Jona. — Daniel — Daniel — m. 
Susan B. Watkins, of Swansey, Jan. i, 1852. Lived 
where his father did; d. Jan. 7, 1878. Had Oscar 
B., b. Nov. 22, 1852; Laura I., b. Feb. 15, 1857; 
Eugene J., b. Sept. 7, 1859; Edgar D., b. April 26, 
1865 ; George H., b. Aug. 3, 1868 ; his widow lives 
on the Daniel Man farm. 

Daniel Cass jd — Daniel — Daniel — m., Jan. i, 
1806, Hannah, dr. of John Bo3'Ce. Lived on the 
farm settled by Israel Phillips, L. 6, R. 3, the place 
now owned by Mrs. Amos A. Flint. Had Tryphena, 
b. July 24, 1811, m. Levi Cass; Jarvis, b. Nov. 28, 
1813 ; Melancy, b. March 11, 1816, m. Carlos Jewell ; 
J. Harrison, b. Jan. 4, 1819, d. about 1844 ; Daniel, b. 
Nov. 7, 1821 ; Hannah, b. Oct. 7, 1823; Emily, b. 
March 3, 1826; Elmira, b. Nov. 13, 1828 ; Angela, 
b. Dec. 6, 183 1. Removed with his son Daniel to 
Iowa, where he d. She d. March 15, 1857. 

yarvis Cass — Daniel — Daniel — Daniel — ist m. 
Nov. 28, 1839, Ra'chel Cook, dr. of Anson Cook, of 



364 HISTORY OF THE 

Cumberland; 2d m. Almira (Shepherd) Curtis, of 
Barre, and widow of Marcus Curtis, Feb. 24, 1858. 
Had by Rachel: Anson, Lewis, Melancy, d., and 
Emily, d. By Almira had Charles D., b. Jan. 10, 
1859; Marion M., b. Aug. 28, 1861 ; Mira J., b. 
May 16, 1863. He d. in the army, 1863 ; Almira 3d 
m. Benjamin W. Bliss. 

y. Harrison Cass — Daniel — Daniel — Daniel — 
was a giant in frame, nearly seven feet in height, and 
died when about 25 years of age. 

Daniel Cass — Daniel — Daniel — Daniel — m. 
April 18, 1848, Betsey A. Bennett. Removed to 
Iowa, 1857, and took his father with him. 

Amory Cass — Daniel — Daniel — Daniel — ist 
m., Aug. 24, 185 1, Sally A. Jillson ; 2d m. Emily A. 
Davis, Oct. 23, 1856. Lived first on the Ebenezer 
Ballon farm. Now resides in Keene. Had Ellen 
S., b. Oct. 6, 1857 ; Emma J., b. June 4, 1859 '■> Henry 
W., b. Feb. 4, 1861 ; George W., b. April 27, 1863 ; 
Bert A., b. March 17, i8(58 ; Ola B., b. Jan. 5, 1872. 

Lahan Cass — Mordica — Daniel — m. April 6, 
1823, Matilda, dr. of Hendrick Martin. Moved to 
Barton, Vt., 1825. 

Luke Cass — Mordica — Daniel — moved to Bar- 
ton, 1832. Had no children. J 

Levi Cass — Mordica — Daniel — m.,Dec. 3,1835, 
Tryphena, dr. of Daniel Cass. Lived on the Samuel 
Gaskill place. He d. Jan. 24, 1875. She 2dm. Phile- 
tus Ballou. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 365 

Martin Cass — Jonathan — Daniel — m. Dec. 31, 
1801, Margaret, dr. of Moses Allen, sr. Settled on east 
part L. 20, R. 5, the placenow owned by J. F. Bal- 
lon. He d. Oct. 30, 1837, '^ged 55 ; she d. May 2, 
1865, aged 81. Had fifteen children, viz. : Olvin, b. 
June 5, 1803; Margaret, b. March 24, 1805, m. 
Hosea Ellis; Martin, b. March 24, 1805 ; Orace, b. 
Dec. 10, 1806; Sylvester, b. Aug. 25, 1808; Josiah 
B., b. March 19, 1810; Augustus, b. Jan. 4, 1812 ; 
Sarah, b. Aug. 4, 1813, m. Willis; Edwin, b. May 

25, 1815 ; Willard, b. June 10, 1817 ; Ahaz, b. April 

26, 1819 ; Zephaniah A., b. July 4, 1821 ; Nahum, b. 
Sept. 7, 1823 ; Moses A., b. Oct. 24, 1825 ; Mary, b. 
May 8, 1828, m. David W. Harris. 

Olvin Cass — Martin — Jonathan — Daniel — m. 
Sept. 21, 1828, Susanna, dr. of Stephen Harris. He 
removed to Vermont, and there died. 

Orace Cass, son of Martin — m. Sept. 12, 1833, 
Mercy, dr. of Obediah Sprague. He removed to 
Vermont, and there died. 

Sylvester Cass, son of Martin, m. Lydia Emerson, 
Sept. 15, 1836, dr. of Moses. Had Abigail, b. June 
15, 1837 ; Wyman, b. Dec. 28, 1839, ^' ]^^' ~9' i843* 
He d. about 1870. 

yosia/i B. Cass — son of Martin, m. Eliza Willis, 
of Swansey, and d. July 4, 1866, aged 56. 

Augustus Cass — son of Martin, m. Angela, dr. of 
Noah Aldrich. He lived a few years after his mar- 
riage on the farm settled by his grandfather ; from 



366 HISTORY OF THE 

there removed to the Luke Cass place. About 1845 
he removed to Tioga Co., Penn., and soon after his 
house was burnt, and he died in consequence of in- 
haling the flames. Had four children, viz. : Martin, 
Margaret, Lafayette, and Loretta. 

Edwin Cass, son of Martin, m. Alcesta, dr. of David 
Harris. He lived on the Otis Cass place, now owned 
by Josiah Newell. He d. Dec. 21, 1855. Had 
Augusta E., b. Jan. 28, 1842, d. April 21, 1S58; 
Charles W., b. Jan. 28, 1842, d. Jan. 7, 1865. His 
widow m. David Martin. 

Willard Cass, son of Martin, m. Esther Cass, dr. 
of Laban. Removed to Penn. 

Ahaz Cass, son of Martin, m., May 20, 1847, Cy- 
rene Richardson, of Fairfax, Vt., b. Dec. i, 1828. 
Lived on the Hendrick Martin place, now occupied by 
his son, Lewis R., west end of L. 20, R. 5. Had one 
child, Lewis R., b. Jan. 13, 1853. Ahaz d. June 9, 
1880. 

Zephani'ak Anson Cass m. Mary, dr. of Lilburn 
Allen. Removed to Tioga Co., Penn. 

Nahiim Cass, son of Martin, ist m., Nov. 19, 1846, 
Lucina, dr. of Nicholas Cook, d. June 13, 1853 ; 2d 
m., Nov. 23, 1853, Martha J., dr. of Luke Aldrich. 
Has resided on the Henry Starkey place, but now 
lives on the Luke Cass farm. Had by Lucina, Ed- 
mond, b. Dec. 28, 1848, d. young ; Moses, b. Feb. 27, 
1850. By Martha had Martin, b. Aug. 16, 1854 ; Al- 
mon, b. Jan. 19, 1861 ; Carlon E., b. Aug. 4, 1869. 

Moses A. Cass, son of Martin, removed to Penn., 
and there died. He m. a daughter of Stephen Martin 
of Barton, Vt. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 367 

Lewis R. Cass, son of Ahaz, m., June 4, 1874, 
Annie D., dr. of Ebenezer Cook. Lives on his 
father's place. Had A. Lilhi, b. Feb. 28, 1878. 

Daniel Cass — Jonathan — Daniel — m., Dec. 11, 
1808, Sally, dr. of Moses Allen ; bought his father's 
farm, the place now owned by Joseph Swan ; re- 
moved to Barton, Vt., about 1830. Had Laura, 
Lona, Sylphina, Hiram, Lorenzo, and Robert. 

Otis Cass — Jonathan — Daniel — m., Jan 13, 1820, 
Melancy, dr. of Jerahmeel Allen ; lived on the place 
now owned by Josiah Newell, and built the house 
now on the premises. He d. Sept. 9, 1836. She 2d 
m. Nathaniel Kingsley. 

The Luke- Cass Family. 

Luke Cass, from Smithfield, 1774, m. Isabel Al- 
drich, of Smithfield, Jan. 24, 1776. He settled on L. 
22, R. 5, the place now owned by Nahum Cass, and 
was an innkeeper. He erected a large, commo- 
dious house, which was taken down by Augustus 
Cass, about 1840. Had a son, b. 1779. He d. May 
31, 1814, in his 60th year. His widow m. Joseph 
Cass, Nov. 26, 1815. Had two brothers, Amos and 
John, and two sisters, Deborah Benson and Silvia 
Phillips. 

Luke Cass 2d, m. Isabel Bishop, Jan. 25, 1809. 

CHASE. 

William Chase m., March 9, 1781, Rhoda, dr. of 
James Westcoat ; was from Gloucester, R. I. ; lived 
where the widow Chase has recently resided, and on 



368 HISTORY OF THE 

the part set off to Troy in 181 5. Had seven chil- 
dren, one of whom, William, remained in town, b. 
Jan. 16, 1785. 

William Chase — William — m., Feb. 3, 1814, 
Esther, dr. of Jesse Ballon. He remained on the 
homestead. He d. March 2, 1832, aged 47 ; she d. 
Nov. 16, 1877, aged 87. Had several children, one 
of whom, Semantha, m. Jacob Whitcomb, jr. 

CHAPMAN. 

Elliot Chapman, h-om Montague, Mass., m. Jennie 
C, dr. of George Taylor, and widow of George F. 
Bryant, March 3, 1873. He lives on the Elijah 
Bolles place. 

CHEEVER. 

James Cheever came to town in 1808, and lived on 
the Caleb Buffiim place. Had Lyman, Elvira, War- 
ren, and Miranda. 

CHENEY. 

Ehenezer Cheney bought the Capt. Oliver Capron 
place, 1812, and there resided until about 1837. 
Had Gustavus, Timothy, Hannah, Millie, Ebenezer, 
and Alethia. 

CHURCH. 

yohn Lovel Church, son of Sarah, dr. of Daniel 
Cass, lived with his mother on the Uriah Jillson farm 
from 1842 to 1854 ' removed to Fitzwilliam. He d- 
in the late war. His mother d. April 26, 1869. 

CLARK. 

George Clark bought the Enos Holbrook farm 
about 1839 ; lived there a few years, and sold the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 369 

same to Seth Truesdale, of Killingly, Ct. lie bought 
back the place, and spent the remainder of his days 
there. He was unmarried, and lived alone ; d. 1866. 

Bcnjainin H. Clarlc, b. in Colerain, Mass., m. 
Elizabeth M. Watkins, May 6, 1846. He bought 
the old Henry Ingalls farm, known as the Joseph 
Cass place, 1866. He d. Nov. 22, 1867. Had Etta 
Isadore, b. July 30, i860. 

CLAPP. 

Lozucll Clapp was a wool-carder and cloth-dresser 
at North Richmond a few years previous to 1818 ; 
sold to Alpheus Capron. 

COLBURN. 

yohn Collmrn, from Rindge, came to town about 
1840. He lived with George Butlum, who had mar- 
ried for his second wife Hannah Colburn, his mother. 
He continued there until after Mr. Buffum's death, 
when he removed to the Nathan Harkness place. 
He m. Lydia Beard, Dec. i, 1825. He d. March 10, 
1870. Had John W., b. March 11, 1827, m. Sarah 
C, dr. of Levi Wheeler, and lives in Macedon, N. 
Y. ; Ann E., b. July 6, 1829, d. Jan. 15, 1838; 
Fanny, b. March 16, 183 1, m. Hiram P. Sprague, 
d. Dec. 2, 1865; Charles O., b. Feb. 26, 1833, m. 
Abby, dr. of Henry Rice, lives in Brattleboro' ; 
Henry, b. June 10, 1835, "^* Anna E. Davis, lives in 
Baldwinsville ; Artemas B., b. July 26, 1838, m. 
Lydia, dr. of Daniel Man, and was killed in the 
battle of Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Mrs. Col- 
burn lives now with Hiram P. Sprague. 
24 



370 HISTORY OF THE 

COLE. 

Ebcnezer Cole, blacksmith, from Warren, R. I., 
m, Susanna, dr. of Capt. Abner Aldrich. He 
bought of Oliver Mason L. ii, R. 6. The house 
and shop stood near the town pound. The place was 
sold to Abner Aldrich, jr., 1778, and soon after the 
family removed to the William Woodward place. 
Had five children. He d. Jan. 14, 1778. His widow 
m. Capt. Stephen Jillson. 

Timothy Cole, probably a son of Ebenezer, bought 
the Deacon John Cass farm, L. 8, R. 9, about 1805 ; 
d. 1815. Had Ezra, who removed to Winchester, 
181 7, and Ira, who went to New York about the same 
time. 

Wheeler Cole settled on south half L. 5, R. 6 
and 7. Had a son, Nathaniel. 

Nathaniel Cole — Wheeler — bought his father's 
place, 1779, and sold the same to Nathan Harkness, 
1786. Had three children, viz. : Huldah, Barnard, 
and Caleb. 

COOMBS. 

Rezihen Coombs owned and occupied the Thayer 
mills from about 1865 to 1870. 

CONWAY. 

Charles W. Conway, b. Sept. 24, 1829, m., in 
Dover, N. H., Feb. 25, 1853, Sarah E. Wentworth, 
who was b. March 30, 1833 ; bought of Obed E. 
Adams, 1865, the Moses Tyler place, and moved on 
the same Sept. 20 of that year ; now owns in addi- 
tion the Rufus Whipple farm and the Rich place. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 37 1 

Had Albert B., b. Oct. 12, 1855; Charles H., b. 
Aug. 31, 1857; Howard, b. Oct. 21, 1859, ^- Sept. 
8, i860; Isabel A., b. Dec. 26, 1863, m. Burton C. 
Jackson, of Winchester; George E., b. Dec. 30, 
1865 ; Julia A., b. Dec. 28, 1870. 

Albert B. Conway, son of Charles W., m. Ada 
A. I dr. of John Whipple, of Warwick ; lives in 
Holyoke, Mass. 

COOK. 

Caj^t. Nicholas Cook, b. Feb. 7, 1733, m. Phillis, 
sister of Paul Jillson. He was son of Dea. Nicholas 
Cook, of Bellingham, and was f. s. on the farm now 
owned by Martin Cook. He d. Sept. 15, 1791 ; she 
d. March 21, 1815. Had Uriah, m. Mary Cumstock, 
moved to Shrewsbury, Vt. ; Lucina, m. Joseph Hol- 
brook ; Jeremiah, m. Ruth Martin, removed to New 
Haven, Vt. ; Lydia, m. Calvin Curtis; Calvin, d. ; 
William, d. ; Luther, b. April 13, 1776 ; Nathaniel, d. ; 
Nicholas, d. ; LukeC, m. Clarissa Winslow, removed 
to Onondaga, N. Y. Capt. Nicholas was a descend- 
ant of Walter Cook, who came from England, 1635, 
and settled finally in Mendon. His widow m. Paul 
Boyce. 

Luther Cook — Nicholas — ist m., Aug. 17, 1800, 
Lillis, dr. of Oliver Mix ; 2d m. Delila Harris, dr. of 
Anthony. He lived on his father's farm. Was a 
chair-maker. He d. April 30, 185 1 ; Lillis d. Nov. 
17, 1830 ; Delila d. Feb. 19, 1845. Had Nicholas, b. 
May 23, 1801 ; Calvin, b. Aug. 6, 1802 ; Oliver, b. 
March 20, 1805, d. March 28, 1805 ; Hannah, b. June 
16, 1806, was killed by lightning, Sept. 25, 1829; 
Diancy, b. Aug. 2, 1808, m. Stephen Randall. 



372 HISTORY OF THE 

Nicholas Cook — Luther — Nicholas — m., Oct. 24, 
1824, Judith, dr. of Otis Capron. He built the house 
where Calvin Cook now lives. Removed to his 
father's house, 1845. He d. Nov. 24, 1866; she d. 
Feb. 9, 1866. Had Lucina, b. Aug. 15, 1825, m. 
Nahum Cass; Polly, b. Aug. 29, 1827, m. Amos H. 
Ingalls ; Hannah, b. Jan. 22, 1830, m. George W. 
Randall ; Martin, b. Aug. 28, 1833 ; Jane, b. April 3, 
1836, m. Lovel K. Pickering. Nicholas and Judith 
d. young. 

Calvin Cook — Luther — Nicholas — m. Anna, dr. 
of Ebenezer Swan, jr., Nov. 14, 1822. First lived 
with Joseph Holbrook, and then on the Asa Man place, 
and now resides in the housebuiltby his bro. Nicholas. 
Had Ebenezer S., b. May i, 1823 ; Luther, b. July 
16, 1830, d. in Boston June 13, 1856; Stephen R., b. 
Oct. 26, 1831, d. in Waltham, Mass. ; Diancy, d. 
Sept. 4, 1851. 

Martin Cook — Nicholas — Luther — Nicholas — 
m. Mary, dr. of Israel Martin. Lives on the old 
homestead. Had Walton L, b. April 7, 1859; My- 
lon N., b. May 8, 1863 ; Nellie J., b. July 31, 1864; 
Frank, b. Oct. 28, 1867; F. Mabel; Grace M., b. 
Sept. 15, 1870; George M., b. Feb. 10, 1882. 

Ebenezer S. Cook — Calvin — Luther — Nicholas 
— m. Caroline Buker ; lives on the Asa Man place. 
Had Annie D. b. Feb. 18, 1853, m. Lewis R. Cass; 
Esther, b. July 7, 1859, m. Chas. D. Cass, May 2, 
1880. 

William Cook, son of Dea. Nicholas, of Belling- 
ham, b. Dec. 12, 1724, m. Priscilla Ballou, young- 



I 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



373 



est sister of James Ballou, sr., settled on lot south of 
his brother Nicholas. His house was on the spot 
where Edson Starkey's house now stands. He built 
the mills at No. Richmond. Had Sylvanus, James, 
William, Nicholas, b. Aug. i6, 1772 ; Susanna, Kath- 
erine, Priscilla, m. Oliver Harris ; Lucretia, m. Esek 
Buftum ; and Elizabeth, b. May 18, 1775. He d. 
1790, and his wid. m., Dec. 6, 1792, Simeon Cham- 
berlain, of Royalston. 

yaincs Cook, son of William, b. June 7, 1760, m. 
Oct. 15, 17S0, Elizabeth, dr. of Henry Ingalls, Esq. 
Lived and kept a store where his father settled, and 
where Edson Starkey now resides. The old build- 
ing was replaced by the present dwelling of Mr. 
Starkey, some years ago. By Elizabeth had seven 
children ; she d. July 18, 1800. 2d m. Waitstill Ful- 
ler, Nov. 2, 1800, and by her had Sylvanus, Eliza- 
beth, and James. He removed to Wallingford, Vt., 
about 1805. 

Sylviinus Cook, son of William, m., Jan. 3, 1782, 
Elizabeth, dr. of David Barney. He lived 2d house 
north of the Davenport place. Had five children, 
viz. : Susanna, Elizabeth, William, Ezekiel, and 
Lydia, b. Feb. 22, 1789. He removed to Vermont. 

Otis Cook, from Mendon, m., July 12, 1795, Lydia, 
dr. of John Cass, jr. No record of family. 

George Cook, the son of Dea. Nicholas, of Belling- 
ham, m. Phebe, dr. of James Tillson. Settled on L. 
21, 4 R., the place where Henry Starkey formerly 
lived. Had six children, viz. ; Freelove, Caleb, Peter, 
Polly, Phebe, and Zuriel, all b. from 1775 to 1783. 
Zuriel succeeded his father, and d. there about 1795. 



374 HISTORY OF THE 

Simeon Cook, b. in Bellingham, Dec. 8, 1770, 
son of Caleb, who was a son of the aforesaid Dea. 
Nicholas, m., July 26, 1791, Rhoda, dr. of Gideon 
Man, lived in Swansey. She died July, 1815, aged 
52. By her he had nine children. Removed to 
Richmond, 1816, bought the Dea. John Cass place, 
1819, and there lived until 1840; 2d m., April 19, 
1816, Rachel Barrus, widow of Ebenezer 3d. Had 
by Rachel, George, b. Aug. 31, 1817 ; Simeon, b. 
April 14, 1821 ; Malvina, b. June 30, 1823, m. 
Joseph B. Smead. He 3d m. Sarah Smead, of Swan- 
sey, March 22, 1840. He d. March 18, 1859, ^ged 
89 ; Rachel d. March 18, 1839 ; Sarah died Nov. 4, 
1861. 

George Cook — Simeon — Caleb — unmarried ; he 
resides in Keene. He prepared for college at Phil- 
lips academes graduated at Amherst college, 1841, 
and at the Theological seminary at Andover, 1844. 
Held a responsible position as teacher, from 1854 
to 1859 in Ala., and then studied medicine. Never 
entered a profession ; acquired a competency in bus- 
iness ; has traveled extensively in N. America, in 
Europe, and in nearly all the countries bordering on 
the Mediterranean ; now devotes his time to literary 
and scientific pursuits. 

Simeon Cook — Simeon — Caleb — m. Patience, dr. 
of Silas Parsons, Sept. 24, 1841 ; 2d m. Ellen Mur- 
dock, of Winchester. Had by Patience : Silas P., b. 
Oct. 18, 1845; Leroy, b. Feb. 4, 1849; Solon, b. 
1851, died in infancy; Clara J., b. Oct. 22, 1854; 
Charles S., b. May 28, 1857. 

Mr. Cook was at the time of his ist marriage, a gro- 
cer in Boston. He soon removed to Richmond, and 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 375 

there engaged in trade at the Four corners, and from 
thence removed to Keene, and was in the employ of 
his brother George for several years in the shook and 
stave business. From Keene he went to Ingersoll, 
Canada West, leaving behind his family, and was 
there for some years in the lumber business, and 
tinally, 1882, he removed to Southern California, 
where he now resides, engaged in raising fruit. 

S/7as P. Cook — Simeon — Simeon — graduated at 
Harvard Col. 1867, where he stood among the first in 
his class. Studied theology at Princeton ; settled in 
Marlboro', N. H., and in Windsor, Vt., and is now 
settled in Chelsea, Mass., over a Cong, church. Le- 
roy, brother of Silas P., graduated at Worcester School 
of Technology, and is draughtsman at Washburn & 
Moen's factory. Charles S., bro. of Silas P., grad- 
uated from the scientific department of Dartmouth 
College, 1880, where he has been tutor ever since. 

Stephen Cook, from Milford, kept the Wakefield 
Tavern, i840-'2. Returned to Milford. 

Jonathan Cook — m. Tabitha. Bought of Joseph 
Allen, 1796, the farm on Tully brook known as the 
Cook place, now owned by Jesse Bolles. He came 
to Richmond, about 1780. He was a shoemaker, had 
eight children, five of which died young, and three 
grew up and lived in town, viz. : Nathan, b. June 8, 
1763; Abigail, b. May 10, 1765, m. Lemuel Scott: 
and Jesse, b. Jan. 17, 1773. 

Nathan Cook — Jonathan — m. Sarah Dix, Feb. 21, 
1796. Lived on his father's place ; was a very strong, 



376 HISTORY OF THE 

wiry, and tough man. Had John, b. July 18, 1798; 
Nathan, b. Oct. 4, 1799; Ebenezer, b. Aug. 14,1801. 
Nathan studied medicine, and went to York state. 

ycssc Cook — Jonathan — lived in Leominster a 
number of years, finally removed to Richmond and 
bought a part of the old Norwood farm ; had no 
children. 

yohn Cook — Nathan — Jonathan — remained on 
the home place, and was never married ; died about 
1850. 

His orbs of siglit were deeply set, 
The bloated flesh around them met; 
If to nose of runlet he'd not been tied 
Not near so soon would he have died. 

COOLEY. 

Aaro)i Coolcy was a resident of the north-west part 
of the town. At one time he was on the Elijah BoUes 
place. He afterwards appears to have lived on the 
David Barney farm. Had eight children, a number 
of which appear to have been paupers about 1810. 

COREY. 

Anthony Corey, from Wallingford, Vt., m., March 
15, 1798, Lovicea, dr. of Capt. Amos Boorn. He 
bought the Esek Buftum farm, now owned by Ozial 
Ballon. He d. May 24, 1835, aged 59 ; she d. Nov. 9, 
1853, aged 77. Had Abraham, b. May 10, 1798, lives 
now in Marlboro', N.H. ; Huldah, b. Sept. 20, 1799 ; 
Anthony ; James, who lives in Fitchburg ; Nicene, b. 
March 5, 181 1, ist m. Edward Tolman, 2d m. Ken- 
dall Fisher, now lives with her son in the middle of 
the town ; Mary, lives in Marlboro' ; Amos, b. 1809 ; 
Cynthia L., m. Seth D. Ballon, d. Jan. 7, 1852, aged 
33. Four children d. in infancy. No record of 
family. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 377 

Amos Corey — Anthony — m. Phebe, dr. of Silas 
Boyce. Lived on his father's place. He d. Aug. 26, 
1857* aged 48; she d. Aug. 23, 1857, aged 43. 

CORLISS. 

Bailey Corliss bought the Asa Thayer farm, situ- 
ated west of Elias Taylor's, in 1S49. Removed to 
Swansey, 1S56. 

CRANE. 

Thomas Crane m., Aug. 4, 1768, Sarah, dr. of 
Abraham Barrus. Was f. s. on L. 13, R. 5, the place 
more recently owned by Robert Swan and his son Eb- 
enezer. It is reported that he was a Tory, and fled 
to Nova Scotia, leaving his family behind him, in the 
time of the Revolution. Had Abraham, William, 
James, John, Mary, and Thomas. 

Abraham Crane — Thomas — m., Feb. 9, 1797, 
Nancy Ingalls, of Royalston. Lived on his father's 
farm. Removed from town, 1813. Had three chil- 
dren. 

yohn Crane — Thomas — m. Lynda, dr. of An- 
thony Harris, Feb. 27, iSoo. Had Ono, who lived 
with Capt. Luke Harris. Removed to Dalton, N. H. 

CROSSMAN. 
Ichabod Crossman was i. s. on a place in the north- 
east corner of the town, where Alvin Nason after- 
wards lived. He probably m. a dr. of Capt. Abner 
Aldrich. 

CRESSEY. 

Alpheus Cressey, from Chesterfield, m. widow 
Lydia Boorn. He lived a few years, about 1840, on 
the old John Bennett larm. 



378 HISTORY OF THE 

CROOKER. 

Capt. Benjamin Crooker, from Boston, ist m. De- 
borah ; 2d m. Jane Bisbee, dr. of Noah, Jan. 

28, 1810. He bought the place now owned by 
Ahnon Twitchell of Lemuel Peters, 1805 ; kept a pub- 
lic house and store there a few years. Had been a sea- 
captain, and was a trader in Boston at the time of the 
purchase. He d. Oct. 26, 1835, ^ged 79. Had by 
Deborah: Deborah, m. Job l^isbee ; Josiah, Mar- 
garet, m. John Smith ; Benjamin, Abigail, m. Daniel 
Smith ; Elijah, b. Nov. 30, 1806. By Jane had 
Elizabeth S., b. Jan. 25, 1811, m. Marcellus L. Al- 
drich ; George W., b. July 29, lives in Illinois; 
Charles A., b. Sept. 5, 1819, lives in New Bedford. 

Col. Elijah Crooker — Benjamin — m., March 29, 
1829, Narcissa M. Peck, of Swansey ; lived on the 
Crooker homestead. He d. Oct. 2, 1835, ^^^^1 30. 
Had Laura S.^ b. Sept. 15, 1829, d. in Swansey, 
1856; Benjamin P., b. Nov. 18, 1832, lives in 
Upton, Mass. ; i\ugusta M., b. Dec. 14, 1833, d. in 
Swansey. 

CUMMINGS. 

Amos E. Cummings, b. in Swansey, Dec. 24, 
1837, m. Ellen M., dr. of Nathaniel B. Fisher, Sept. 
7, 1870; lives on the David Russell farm. Had 
Amos H., b. April 24, 1873, d. Sept. 11, 1883; 
Abbie E., b. Jan. 21, 1875, d. Aug. 25, 1875 ' Gertie 
A., b. Nov. 10, 1878. 

CUMSTOCK. 
Azariah Ctcmstock, from Smithfield, m., April 20, 
1735, Zeruiah Sprague ; was a blacksmith; f. s. on 



n\ 






W^ ■^H^'M^ ^..."'h 



' riF-''-Tfi 









r-^< 



Crooker House and Store. 






""w^^jsI 



I' 



'w 






1* i. 






■^-- 







W- Tls^.^-v^'. 



-=-::.^ 



Holmes House (Middle of Town). Seepage 164. 



1 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 379 

L. 7, R. 8, 1762. His place was west of Jonas 
Wheeler's, near the junction of the old road with the 
Sprague road. He d. 1791- He sold to Joseph Cass, 
1769, and then bought out his brother Abner. Had 
Jemima, b. Aug. 5, 1735 ; Moses, b. Nov. 9, 1737 ; 
Lydia, b. June 18, 1741 ; Aaron, b. Jan. 13, 1743 ; 
Abner, b. Aug. i, 1747; Amy, b. March 19, 1749, 
m. Capt. Dan. Whipple; Mary, b- Sept. 22, 1751, 
m. Rufus Whipple; Azariah, b. Sept. 25, 1755. 

Abner Cumstock, f. s. on L. 5, R. 8, the place 
since owned and occupied by Obediah Sprague. He 
d. about 1770, but had sold the premises to his 
brother Azariah, 1769. Had Abner, William, and 
others. 

Moses Cunislock — Azariah — f. s. on L. 7, R. 4, 
known as the Caleb Buffum place. He, like Nimrod 
of old, was a mighty hunter. He sold to Butium, 
about 1784, and removed from town. 

Aaron Cuiustoek — Azariah — f. s. on west end of 
L. 8, R. 4, the place recently owned by Henry Rice. 
He was a blacksmith ; sold to Abner Aldrich about 
1768. 

William Cunisloek — Abner — m., 1804, Frinda 
Hawkins, of Winchester. Was a tanner, and had a 
yard below the Sprague mills. Removed to Onon- 
daga, N. Y. 

CURTIS. 

Samuel Curtis^ who w^as a son of Noah Curtis, of 
Uxbridge, m., Jan 27, 1774, Olive, dr. of Caleb Cook, 
of Swansey ; was f. s., 1766, on L. 22, R. 6, the 
place since owned and occupied by Daniel Twitchell. 



380 HISTORY OF THE 

He kept a public house, and was frequently on the 
board of selectmen. He d. 1822. Had Noah, b. 
Oct. II, 1776; Caleb, Samuel, Seth A., Thaddeus, 
and Stephen. Of these only the four first named 
remained in town. Thaddeus was a brush-maker in 
Providence ; lii^ed to be about 90. Had also Eliza- 
beth, m. Silas Ballou, jr. ; Olive, m. Windsor Parker; 
and Mercy. No record of family. 

JVoah Curtis, brother of Samuel, m. Elizabeth 
Tillson, dr. of James; was f. s. on L. 23, R. 6, 
known as the Abner Twitchell place, 1766. Had 
Thaddeus, b. 1768, d. 1788. He d. 1821 ; she d. 1793. 

Caleb Curtis — Samuel — m., 1813, Lucy, dr. of 
Israel Saben ; lived north of the Ephraim Taft place, 
where Abner Twitchell had formerly lived. Had 
Mary, Delila, Julia, and others. 

Samuel Curtis — Samuel — m. Lois Estes, dr. of 
Zacheus. He lived on the Joseph Cass place, now 
owned by Mrs. Elizabeth M. Clark. Had Orison, 
Jerrel A., Eliza, m. Alvan Barrus ; Marcus, and 
Samuel, b. Aug. 4, 1827. He d. Sept. 13, 1855. 
No record of family. 

Scth A. Curtis — Samuel — m. Mary ; lived on the 
place now owned by William T. Carter. The old 
house, which was burned, stood nearly opposite of 
Jerrel's. He built the buildings now standing on the 
premises about 1842 ; removed to Rhode Island, and 
there died. Had William, who lives in Winchester, 
and Annah, m. Van Rensselaer Pickering. 

Orison Curtis — Samuel — Samuel — m.. May 16, 
1824, Betsey, dr. of Seth Ballou ; was a shoemaker. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 381 

and removed to Colerain, Mass., about 1829. Had 
Orison, Henry, Semantha, m. Blake, d. ; and Seth. 

'Jeri'cl A. Cti^-tis — Samuel — Samuel — m. Caro- 
line, dr. of Elias Taylor ; lived on the place now 
owned by Isaac N. Mellen ; was mostly engaged in 
putting out palm leaf. Had George T., lives in Hins- 
dale ; Henry O., b. Aug. 19, 1841 ; Eliza ; Jerrel A., 
b. Dec, 1848 ; Jane C, b. 1851, m. Henry R. Bowen. 

Marcus Curtis — Samuel — Samuel — m. Almira 
Shepherd, of Barre. He d. about 1856. She 2d m. 
Jarvis Cass. 

Samuel Curtis — Samuel — Samuel — m. Harriet 
E. Barnes, of Winchester, and lives at Millers Falls. 
Had Walter E., and Carriebelle E. 

Henry O. Curtis — Jerrel A. — Samuel — Samuel 
— m., Sept. II, 1862, Arvilla J., dr. of James A. 
Mellen ; lives on the place once occupied by Russell 
Whipple, near Tully brook. Had Everett H., b. 
July 7, 1867; Frank M., b. Dec. 12, 1870: George 
H., b. June, 1873. 

DANDLEY. 

yohn Z^rt-wrf/rj/, from Cumberland, m. Susanna Cass, 
dr. of Dea. John Cass, Feb. 11, 1759. Was f. s. on 
the farm now owned by Preston L. Freeman. He 
came to town very early in its history. Remained 
about fifteen years. Sold to James BroAvn, of Glou- 
cester, R. I., about 1777, and removed to state of N. 
Y. Had by his wife Susanna nine children. Son 
John m. Freelove Jillson, of Cumberland, Oct. 20, 
1782. 



382 HISTORY OF THE 

DANIELS. 

Sylvester Daniels came from Millbury about 1874. 
Lives on L. 23, R. 6, the place formerly owned and 
occupied by Abner Twitcliell, sr. No record. 

DARLING. 

Stephen Darling m. Elizabeth Scott, Dec. 25, 1799- 
Lived on the place known as the Calvin White farm. 

DAVENPORT. 

'Joseph Clark Davenport, from Mount Holly, m., 
March 4, 1798, Martha, dr. of Joseph Starkey, sr. 
He lived a few years on a place north of Nathaniel 
Aldrich's, and finally removed to Mount Holly, Vt., 
about 1815. Had Joseph, and Waitstill, who m. Sol- 
omon Woodward. 

Joseph Davenport, son of Clark, m. Aphemia, dr. 
of Jacob Martin, Jan. 27, 1825. 

Elijah Davenport, brother of Clark, m. Esther, dr. 
of Joseph Starkey, sr., and went to Mount Holly, Vt. 
Had a son Henry, who d. May 25, 1S60. 



DAY. 

Othaniel Day, from Attleboro', b. Nov. 2, 1740* 
lived on the place since occupied by John Day and 
Lewis Fisher, L. 22, R. n, next to Warwick. He 
d. June 10, 1820. No record of family. Had 
John, b. Dec. 29, 1795. 

John Day — Otlianiel — m., Jan. 30, 1821, Sally, 
dr. of Caleb Weeks, of Warwick. Had Abif^ail, b. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 383 

June 14, 1821 ; Hymenus, b. Feb. 12, 1823, d. April 7, 
1852; Philetus, b. Nov. 15, 1825, d. Dec. i, 1843; 
Caleb, b. Oct. 12, 1827 ; Josephus, b. Nov. 23, 1829; 
John, b. Jan. 11, 1832, d. Sept. 6, 1852. He d. Oct. 
12, 1832 ; his widow m. Lewis Fisher. 

Ezra Day, f. s. on L. 3, R. 3, a place west of 
Tully, north of the Seth Ballon farm. 

DEXTER. 

Benjamin Dexter, from Orange, bought the Gid- 
eon Man place at the Four corners, 181 1. Sold the 
same to Bassett and Harkness, 1817. He d. 1818, 
while living on the Dea. John Cass place. 

DILLINGHAM. 

Thomas Dillingham m. Remembrance . Lived 

on the James Swan place, 1782. Had two children. 

DINGMAN. 

"John G. Dingman resided, fr»m 1861 to 1865, on 
the place first settled by Enoch White. Was a sol- 
dier in the late war. Now resides in Winchester. 

DODGE. 

Andrew Dodge, b. in Hardand,Vt., May 28, 1803, 
1st m., 1827, Sarah M. Ilildreth, of Dracut, Mass. ; 
she d. in Cornish, N. II., 1848 ; 2d m.. May 7, 1850, 
Mrs. Almira Bingham, b. Sept. 26, 1794, and is now 
living. Moved to Nathaniel Naromore's place, 1872. 
Had by Sarah M. seven children. She, together with 
three of her children, were killed in a tornado in Cor- 
nish, 1848. 



384 HISTORY OF THE 

DOOLITTLE. 
r 
Charles H. Doolittle, from Winchester, m. Mari- 

ette, dr. of Dan Buffum, and widow of A. C. Pres- 

cott, March 14, 1865. Lived on the Dan Buffum 

place. He d. May 27, 1883. Had Lizzie M.,b. 

June 14, 1867 ; Katie, b. Nov. 5, 1869 ; and Flora G., 

b. Jan. 27, 1872. 

ELLIS. 

fohn Ellis ^ from Rehobath, f. s. on the place now 
occupied by Henry Bullock, L. 2, R. 8, was out in 
the Revolutionary war. No record of family. Had 
by Mary, his wife, Sabra, b. Nov. 24, 1767 ; John, 
Martin, Benjamin, and Rebecca, m. Hugh Bullock, 
of Royalston. 

yohn Ellis, jr. — John — m. Dec. 18, 1774, Ra- 
chel Marsh, by whom he had Eunice, Edward, Mar- 
tin, and John. 

Benjamin Ellis — John — m., Nov. 24, 1785, Ruth, 
dr. of Henry Ingalls ; had by Ruth, Henry, b. June 
7, 1786; Rufus, b. Dec. 7, 1787. 

Dea. Martin Ellis — John — ist m., June 8, 1777, 
Mar}^ Kingsley; 2d m., 1821, Catherine Bullock. 
Lived on his father's place. He d. 1832. By Mary 
had eleven children, viz. : Sylvanus, b. Nov. 8, 1777, 
m. Cynthia, dr. of Anthony Harris ; Benjamin, b. Nov. 
16, i7y9» m. Susanna, dr. of William Garnsey ; Lucy, 
b. March 18, 1782, m. Caleb Harris; Sabra, b. Aug. 
4, 1791 ; James, b. July 6, 1784: Daniel, b. 1788; 
Polly, b. April 3, 1795; Martin, b. April 30, 1798; 
Sarah, b. Aug. i, 1800; Hosea, b. Sept. 4, 1802; 
Candace, b. April i, 1805, m. Cass Bullock, jr. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 385 

yamcs Ellis — Martin — John — m. Charlotte Peck, 
of Royalston, Jan. i, 1807.* Was killed in Templeton, 
July 19, 181 3, by being thrown from a wagon, aged 
28; she d. Aug. 23, 1815, aged 28. 

Daniel Ellis — Martin — John — ist m., April 30, 
1820, Lucy, dr. of Joseph Cass ; 2d m. Elizabeth Ap- 
plin, Dec. 23, 1830; she d. April 12, 1875, aged 91. 
Had by Lucy : Polly, b. Nov. 26, 1820 ; Daniel C, b. 
Dec. I, 1823 ; David, b. Nov. 16, 1828; and Samuel 
Wayne, b. 1817, went to Cleveland, O. He lived in 
Townsend, Vt., and d. in Richmond, Sept 5, 1872, 
aged 84. 

Martin Ellis, Jr. — Martin — John — m. Hannah, 
dr. of Cass Bullock, and removed to Vt. 

Hosea Ellis — Martin — John — m. Margaret, dr. 
of Martin Cass. Had Alvin C, b. May 7, 1826. He 
removed to Calais, Vt., 1833. 



ELLOR. 

Liikc Ellor m. a dr. of Josiah Cass, and lived a 
few years on the Martin Cass place. Had Jennie, 
m. John F. Ballon. 

EMERSON. 

Moses Emerson m., Sept. 11, 1796, Abigail, dr. of 
Moses Allen. He was from Stoddard, N. H. Returned 
to town about 1835, ^^id lived on the Otis Cass place. 
Had Richard, Elisha, Wyman, Lydia, and Lucy. 
Lydia m. Sylvester Cass ; Lucy m. James M. Harris. 
Moses d. Feb. 9, 1854. Abigail d. Sept. 21, 1845. 
-55 



386 HISTORY OF THE 

ERSKINE. 

Walter Erskine, who was son of Lieut. John Ers- 
kine, of Winchester, m., May 16, 1816, Margaret, 
dr. of Zephaniah Bowen. He deserted his lamil}'^, 
and she 2d m. Maturin Ballon, of Whitingham, Vt. 
Had Emugenia, b. March 19, 1817, ist. m. Jesse 
G. Wheeler, 2d m. M. H. Bean, Sept. 17, 1845 ; 
Massena B., b. Dec. 19, 1819 ; Mandana W., b. Aug. 
31, 1822, m. Thomas Pushee, of Wisconsin. 

Massena B. Erskinc, son of Walter Erskine, whose 
early youth was spent in this town in the home of 
Otis Cass, the place now owned by Josiah Newell, 
has gained for himself wealth and distinction in the 
city of his adoption. He went to Racine, Wis., 1852, 
and there became connected with an establishment 
for the manufacture of threshing machines, etc. Has 
been promoted to the highest municipal offices ; has 
been mayor of the city three times, besides holding 
numerous other positions of honor and trust. 



ESTES. 

Zachcus Estcs came from Rhode Island about 1780. 
Bought the place settled by Enoch White, L. 15, R. 
2. He was by trade a moulder, and worked a while 
for Levi Aldrich, who had a small foundry. After- 
wards lived at various places in town. Was in the 
war of the Revolution. Had Marcus, Ruth, m. Geo. 
Handy ; Polly, m. John Boyce ; Abigail, m. James 
Bowen ; Lois, m. Samuel Curtis ; Naomi, m. James 
Yates. One other dr. m. James Fisk, the father of 
the celebrated James Fisk, jr. 




MASSENA B. ERSKINE. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 387 

EVANS. 
Mcdad Evans^ b. in Hinsdale, N. H., May 15, 
1822, m., Dec. 31, 1850, Augusta F., an adopted dr. 
of Barnabas Barrus, b. Nov. 15, 1829. Moved to 
Richmond in 1862, and lives on the Barnabas Barrus 
place. Had Ellon B., and Lizzie M., both died in 
Hinsdale; William M., b. in Richmond, Nov. 20, 
1864; Mary F., b. May 18, 1869. She d. Sept. 16, 
1882. 

FAIRBROTHER. 

Wm. Fairhrothc)- was a resident in town from 1814 
to 1817. 

FASSETT. 

Samuel Fasselt was evidently the f. s. on L#. 20, R. 
9, the place afterwards owned by Ephraim Taft, 
Benjamin Newell, and others. He built a saw mill 
on the site of the mill owned by ^jrT Henry Taylor; 
he was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He re- 
moved to Winchester, and had a dr. who m. Amos 
Adams. 

FISHER. 

Lewis Fisher ist m. Sarah, widow of John Day ; 
2d m. Alfreda, widow of Luther Beals ; lived on the 
John Day place. Had by Sarah: Sarah F., b. 
March 20, 1836, m. Henry Whipple ; Lewis, b. Feb. 
20, 1828, d. Aug. 22, 1841 ; Lucius L., b. Dec. 22, 
1841 ; Richard P., b. Dec. 7, 1844. He d. Feb. 17, 
1871, aged 61 ; Sarah d. Oct. 6, 1865, aged 64. 

Richard P. Fisher — Lewis — m., Oct. 13, 1868, 
Alia R., dr. of Enoch D. Sprague ; lives at the Four 
corners, and is a painter. Had Eva M., b. Sept. 17, 



388 HISTORY OF THE 

1869; Edith A., b. Sept. 6, 1871 ; Nervie R., b. 
Jan. 7, 1873. 

Kendall Fisher^ Esq., son of Elder Darius Fisher, 
of Fitzwilliam, ist m. Esther, dr. of Jacob Martin; 
2d m. Nicene, dr. of Anthony Corey, and widow of 
Edward Tolman ; lived next north of Paul Jillson's, 
L. 15, R. 2. He d. Dec. 9, 1867, aged 68. Had 
Nancy, m. Francis Boyce ; Gilbert, Lorina, m. 
Samuel Pickering, jr. ; George, Alvina, and Charles. 
Kendall Fisher was for many years one of the lead- 
ing men of the town, and was honored by the highest 
offices in the hands of his townsmen. 

Nathaniel B. Fisher, son of Ira Fisher, of Fitz- 
william, m., Oct. 20, 1846, Betsey M., dr. of Clark 

B. Holbrook, of Swansey ; lives on the old Robert 
Martin place. He came to town i860. Had Ellen 
M.,b. Oct. 17, 1847, in Fitzwilliam; Abbie A., b. 
Aug. 5, 1849; Ida J., b. Dec. 6, 1850; Ira C, b. 
Oct. 19, 1852 ; Charles T., b. May 22, 1855 ; Emma 

C, b. March 8, 1857, d. Jan. 7, 1868; Mary E., 
b. Dec. 4, 1859 ' Nancy S., b. July 31, 1861, d. April 
28, 1862 ; Martha A., b. Sept. 4, 1863 ; George A., 
b. Sept. 8, 1865, d. Sept. 27, 1865; Alma D., b. 
Nov. 24, 1866; Reuben B., b. May 8, 1869; Nellie 
B., b. April 22, 1873. He d. 1884. 

Ira C. Fisher — Nathaniel B. — m., Nov. 5, 1876, 
S. Frances, dr. of John Whipple, of Warwick; lives 
on the Oliver Puffer place. Had three children. 

FLINT. 

Amos A. Flint, of Reading, Mass., came to town, 
1865, from Amherst, N. H. ; was b. July 22, 1827; 



II 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 389 

m. Catherine Carter, of Wilmington, Mass., b. April 
23, 1826: bought the place first occupied by Israel 
Phillips, L. 6, R. 3, known as the Daniel Cass farm ; 
was accidentally killed by a circular-saws 1869. The 
family now resides in Winchester. Had William F., 
b. Aug. 25, 1849; Emma, b. July 16, 1852; Ozro, 
b. July 18, 1854; Salina B., b. Nov. 15, 1856; 
Catherine M., b. June 13, 1859; Esther, b. March 
19, 1861 ; Cynthia J., b. Nov. 18, 1863; Herbert A., 
b. May 31, 1865. William F. was a graduate of 
Dartmouth college. 

FRAZIER. 

Andrew H. Frazier^ from Canada, resides on the 
place settled by Jesse Ballon. No record of family. 

FREEMAN. 

Dan. Freeman, son of Ralph Freeman and Sarah 
Capron, lived near the Aaron Kelton place; b. June 
16, 1745. He removed quite early to Winchester. 
Had five children. 

Lewis Freeman, b. May 8, 1798, m., July 4, 1825, 
Nancy, dr. of Rufus Kelton. He d. June 23, 1878. 
Removed from Sharon, Mass., 1836, to the farm first 
occupied by John Dandley. Had N. Augusta, b. June 
19, 1825, m. Ruel Thayer; Preston L., b. March 
28, 1828 ; Rufus, b. July 6, 1832 ; James B., b. July 
6, 1834, d- you^^g5 Ellen, b. May 15, 1836, m. Henry 
B. Robbins ; Thomas, b. Sept. 2, 1838, d. young; 
Francis W., b. Nov. 23, 1839, ^- jo^^g 5 Loren A., 
b. June 23, 1844. 

Preston L. Freeman — Lewis — m., June 29, 1867, 
Lucy J., dr. of William Wright, Esq. ; lives on his 



390 HISTORY OF THE 

father's place. Had Nellie R., b. May 28, il 
William L., b. April 17, 1873; Walter P., b. Feb. 
18, 1875. 

Ruf^is F7'ccman — Lewis — m. Melissa, dr. of 
Jonas Twitchell ; lives in Keene, and is in the em- 
ploy of the Cheshire R. R. Co. 

FRENCH. 

Dr. Sa7nucl P. French, b. in Gilmanton, N. H., 
March 17, 1818 ; graduated at Dartmouth college, 
1841 ; studied medicine with Dr. Nahum Wright, of 
Gilmanton; commenced practice at Merrimac, 1845, 
and in Richmond, 1846; succeeded Dr. Leander 
Smith ; removed to Winchester, 1864, where he re- 
mained four years ; removed to Warwick, 1868, and 
from thence returned to Richmond, 1881 ; m., Dec. 
3, 1849, Nancy H. M., dr. of Abner Barden. He 
d. Feb. 7, 1882, while on a visit to one of his patients. 
Had three children, viz. : Helen M., b. June 26, 
1851, d. ; Arthur P., b. March 5, 1854; Caroline I., 
b. July 19, 1859. 

Thomas French was a resident from 181 2 to 1816 ; 
lived on the Reuben Bowen place. 

FULLER 

Edzuard Fuller occupied the farm now owned by 
Dennis Harkness from 1814 to 1819. 

Solomon Fuller, a twin brother of Edward, was 
unmarried, and lived with his brother. 

Oliver Fuller was probably a f. s. on the Jeremiah 
Barrus farm, or on the Jared Ballon place. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 39 1 

GAGE. 

Solomon Gage came to town in 1810; his name 
disappears in 1818. Lived on the Levi Mowry place. 

GARNSEY. 

Dca. Amos Garnsey m. Merriam Pike. Came 
from Rehobath about 1766; settled on L. 13, R. 11, 
where John Scott and others have since lived. He d. 
Feb. 12, 1813 ; she d. Dec. 12, 1814. Had six chil- 
dren, viz. : Cyrel, b. April 30, 1764; Amos, b. April 
9, 1768; Cyrus, b. Feb. 20, 1773 ; Lucy, b. Nov. 29, 
1774, m. Nehemiah Bennett; Darius, d. Dec. 20, 
1784; Moses, b. March 25, 1781. 

Cyrel Garnsey — x\mos — m., Nov. 24, 1784, Sa- 
lome Garfield, of Fitzwilliam, b. May 31, 1769. 
Lived on the place with his father. Removed to 
Whitefield, N. H., about 1823. Had twelve, children, 
John, b. Nov. 27, 1786, d. Sept. 19, 1787 ; Merriam, 
b. May 2, 1788, m. Solomon Gage ; John, b. July 28, 
1790, m. Lydia, went to Canada ; Aaron, b. Oct. 19, 
1793, d. Sept 8, 1799; Darius, b. Aug. 28, 1795; 
Mary, b. Nov. 7, 1797, m. John Scott; Rachel, b. 
Sept. 25, 1799, "^- Lemuel Scott, jr. ; Anna, b. Feb. 3, 
1802, m. Jedediah B. Howe; Naomi, b. April 3, 
1804, m. Thomas Eastman ; Phebe, b. Feb. 2, 1808, 
m. Baker; Aaron, b. Sept. I4,nj8i2 ; Ruth, b. June 
23, 1815, d. He d. 1836-7 ; she d. about 1840. 

Amos Garnsey^ jr. — Amos — removed to West- 
minster, Vt. Had Amos, b. Sept. 6, 1803, who re- 
sides here ; had other children. 

Cyrus Garnsey — Amos — m., May 11, 1796, 
Mary, dr. of John Bennett. Lived on the Joseph 



392 HISTORY OF THE 

Cass farm, the place since owned by Dan Buffum. 
Had Nellie, b. 1796, m. Dan Buffum. He d. June 
21, 1826, age 53 ; she d. July 20, 1855, age 86. 

Moses Garnsey — Amos — was a soldier of the war 
of 181 2. He removed to Plainfield, Vt. 

Aaron Garnsey — Cyrel — Amos — removed to 
northern New Hampshire, and now resides in Lancas- 
ter, N. H. 

Dr. Darius Garnsey — Cyrel -r- Amos — m. , Feb. 
8, 1818, Abigail, dr. of Lemuel Scott. Studied medi- 
cine with Dr. John Parkhurst. Removed to White- 
field, N. H., 1823. He d. 1830; she d. 1877. Had 
Norris, b. 1819, d. 1822 ; Sanford, b. June 23, 1820; 
Norris G., b. March 18, 1826. 

Sanford Garnsey, son of Darius, m., Jan. 20, 1846, 
Lydia, dr. of John Starkey. Lives in Chesterfield, 
and is proprieter of a hotel. Was for a while after 
his marriage in the pail business with Edson Starkey 
at North Richmond, also lived on the Elder Ballou 
place with his brother Norris ; is reputed wealthy. 
No children. 

Norris G. Garnsey, son of Darius, m. Moranda 
Pickett, dr. of Hosea Pickett, of Winchester. He 
lived on the Maturin Ballou farm with his brother 
Sanford about 1850 ; thence removed to Keene. Was 
proprietor of a restaurant at Cheshire R. R. depot, and 
is now with his son in the same business on the oppo- 
site side of the street. Has acquired a competenc}^ in 
business. Had four children. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 393 

Adios Garnscy — Amos — Amos — m., Oct. 26, 
1828, Clarissa, dr. of William Randall; first lived on 
the Benjamin Hews place ; removed to his present 
residence about 1845. Had three children, viz. : 
Amos, b. Dec. 26, 1831 ; William, b. Sept. 27, 1839; 
Watrous, b. Sept. 6, 1842. She d. April 15, 1875, 
aged 68. 

Amos Garnsey — Amos — Amos — Amos — m. 
Mary Jane, dr. of Ezra Martin, jr. ; lived in Tro}', 
N. H. ; now resides in Sanford. Me., and is a manu- 
facturer of woolen goods. Had Frederick A. and 
Almon E. 

William Garnsey — Amos — Amos — Amos — m. 
Fannie L., dr. of Amos Bennett, Esq. ; lives with his 
father. Has one child, Elnora, b. July 15, 1877. 

Watrous Garnsey — Amos — Amos — Amos — m. , 
Feb. 16, 1864, Emily J., dr. of Benjamin Newell, jr. ; 
lives on the Nathan Bullock farm. Had Clarissa, b. 
July 9, 1875 ; Eva, b. Aug. 20, 1877 ; Sarah, b. July 
10, 1879. 

Oliver Garnsey, brother of Deacon Amos, from 
Rheobath, was f. s. on L. 11, R. 7. His house was 
near the new road from the middle of the town to the 
David Duffum place. He removed to Westminster, 
Vt. Had six children. 

William Garnsey, probably from Rehobath, son 
of John Garnsey, m., Oct. 27, 1771, Chloe, sister of 
Jonathan Thurber ; f. s. on L. 2, R. 7, the place 
next east of Deacon Ellis', now Henry Bullock's. 
The aforesaid John Garnsey lived with his son Wil- 
liam, and was probably the father of Amos, Oliver, 



394 HISTORY OF THE 

John, jr., David, and Jesse. Had Otis, b. June 21, 
1772 ; Wealthy, b. March 27, 1774, m. David Harris ; 
Chloe, b. March 21, 1776, m. Aaron Peck; William, 
b. Dec. 6, 1777 ; Isaiah, b. Nov. 20, 1779; Susanna, 
b. Oct. 6, 1781, m. Benjamin Ellis; Simeon, b. Sept. 
18, 1783; Amy, b. Sept. 12, 1785 ; Sylvanus, b. July 
18, 1787; Solomon, b. May 10, 1789; Jonathan, b. 
July 18, 1790; Isaac, b. April 12, 1794. 

Otis Garnscy — William — m., Nov. 7, 1792, 
Esther Smith. 

William Garnscy — William — m., Dec. 19, 1805, 
Provided, dr. of Jonathan Gaskill ; lived on the Gas- 
kill place ; house was burned 1816; removed to 
Cummington, Mass., 1820. Had Hannah, m. Na- 
than E. Babbitt, d. 1881 ; Sylphina, m. Phinehas 
Morton, d. 1883 ; William H., who is now post- 
master in Winchester. He d. 1842. 

Isaiah Gai'nsey — William — m., Oct. 10, 1802, 
Merriam Day, of Keene. 

David Garnscy^ from Rehobath, and brother of 

Deacon Amos and Oliver, m. Esther . Had 

six children, viz. : Amasa, Rebecca, Hubbard, Lucy, 
Otis, and Eunice. Removed to Winchester, and 
afterwards had Asahel. 

yesse Garnscy^ from Rehobath, m.,May 25, 1794, 
Olive West; lived west end of L. 7, R. 12, on the 
hill south of Thayer's saw-mill, near a brook still 
called the Jess brook. Had John, b. Feb. 9, 1795, 
and then removed to Winchester and had Abner and 
Eunice. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 395 

John Garnsey, Jr., probably a brother of William 
and Amos Garnsey, appears to have settled on the 
west end of L. 12, R. 11, or near by the place since 
occupied by William Whipple, Ellis Thayer, and 
others. He m. Electa Newton, Oct. 22, 1778. Had 
Hannah and Jacob. He probably removed from 
town in 1780. 

GASKILL. 

yonalhan Gaskill, b. May 22, 1739, from Cumber- 
land, 1762, and son of Jonathan of Salem, whose 
wife was Alice Pickering, m. Hannah Estes, Nov. 
30, 1761. He was f. s. on L. 8, R. 3, near the place 
where tradition says the first clearing was made in 
Richmond by Sylvester Rogers. He d., by suicide, 
Sept. 18, 1790. Had eleven children, viz. : Sarah, 
b. April 6, 1762, m. Moses Buffum ; Samuel, b. Oct. 
30, 1763; Tamar, b. July 11, 1765, m. Caleb Buf- 
fum; Verney, b. March 12, 1767 ; Hannah, b. May 
14, 1769, m. Caleb Buftum ; Olive, b. May 6, 1771, 
m. Jedediah Buftum, jr. ; Silas, b. July 29, 1773 ; 
Lavice, b. June 15, 1775, m. Nathaniel A. Bowen ; 
Ebenezer, b. July 25, 1777, d. Sept. 24, 1790; 
Patience, b. Aug. 18, 1781, m. Benjamin Newell; 
Provided, b. Sept. 8, 1786, m. William Garnsey. 

Silas Gaskill, son of Jonathan, m., Nov. 30, 1794, 
Deborah Wing. Had Estes, Stephen, Esquire, 
Jason, Jonathan, lived in Albion, N. Y. ; Samuel, 
Joseph, Silas, James, and Benjamin. 

Samuel Gaskill, Esq. — Jonathan — m., April 25, 
1784, Nicene, dr. of Paul Boyce ; was f. s. on L. 6, 
R. 3, the place lately occupied by Levi Cass; re- 



39^ HISTORY OF THE 

moved to Waterbury, Vt., 1804. Had Hannah, 
Jonathan, d. 1830 ; Samuel, lived in Concord, N. H. ; 
Olive, Ebenezer, Nicene, Silas, and Rufus. The 
three last named went to Alto, Wis. Ebenezer lived 
in Litdeton, N. H. 

Verney Gaskill — Jonathan — m., Aug. 19, 1787, 
Sarah, dr. of Jedediah Buftum ; was f. s. on east part 
of L. 8, R. 3, the place where Edwin Bolles now 
lives; sold to Nathaniel A. Bowen, 1799; removed, 
and bought of John Gorton, 1800, the farm where 
William and Nathaniel Boom have since lived ; re- 
moved to New York. Had ten children, viz. : Verney, 
Joseph, George, William, Esther, Mahala, Lavina, 
Candace, Sarah, and Tamah. 

Silas Gaskill, brother of Jonathan, from Cvimber- 
land, 1765, m. Sarah Jillson, March 4, 1765 ; was f. 
s. on L. 5, R. 4, known as the Ebenezer Ballon 
place ; was an innkeeper ; moved back to Cum- 
berland. Had four children, viz. : Sylvanus, b. 
Sept. 5, 1765; Wilder, b. Oct. 6, 1767; Uriah, b. 
Oct. 13, 1769 ; Jonathan, b. Aug. 21, 1772. 

GAY. 

Walter N. Gay, b. in Loudon, N. H., May 17, 
1853, m., March 17, 1879, Minnie Ellis, of Keene. 
He settled on the Stephen Randall farm, 1876. Had 
Jettie, b. Jan. 13, 1880, d. Sept. 25, 1882. 

GLEASON. 

Charles F. Gleasoti, from Alstead, came to town 
1842 ; m. Amanda, dr. of Ezra Martin. Was a tailor, 
and had a shop over Swan & Parkhurst's store. He 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 397 

remained here two or three years, and then removed 
to Dana, Mass. 

GODDARD. 

William Goddard was a descendant of William 
Goddard, who came from London, Eng., about 1666, 
and settled in Watertown. The lineage runs William 
— James — William, from London. He was b. in 
Watertown, June 14, 1731, m. Elizabeth White. Was 
f. s. on L. 4, R. 10. He removed from Brookline to 
Richmond about 1770. The house stood where Frank 
Amadon's mill-yard now is. Removed to the Thomas 
Wooley farm about 1790. Had seven children, viz. : 
Mary, b. Oct. 28, 1762 ; Elizabeth, b. Aug. 25, 1775, 
d. young; Thomas, b. March 14, 1779; Edward, b. 
April 25, 1767; Joseph, b. Aug. 3, 1764; Sarah, b. 
Oct. 3, 1769 ; Samuel, b. March 18, 1772, d. May 17, 
1799. He d. Jan 28, 1820 ; she d. Feb. 2, 1807. 

Edzvard Goddard — William — m., Feb. 17, 1796, 
Hannah, dr. of Gideon Man. Removed to Mary- 
land, Otsego Co., N. Y. Was a tanner; he acquired 
considerable property. 

Thomas Goddard — William — ist m., June 18, 1812, 
Lydia, dr. of Uriah Cook ; 2d m. Olive, dr. of Aaron. 
Kelton, May, 1830. Lived on the David Cass place 
now owned by Davis Sprague. He d. Jan. 28, 1853 ; 
Lydia d. Oct. 16, 1828. Had seven children, viz. : 
Elizabeth, b. June i, 1813, d. Sept. 13, 1832; Wil- 
liam, b. May 4, 1815 ; Joseph, b. Oct. 21, i8f6, re- 
moved to Holland, Vt. ; Emily, b. March 4, 1818 ; 
m. Alvan Barrus ; Zerah C, b. Oct. 5, 1819; Lydia, 
b. March 24, 1821, m. O. F. Blanding ; Asahel T., 
b. Jan. 16, 1824. Lives with Amos Martin. Olive, 
his widow, 2d m. Jos. Bliss. 



39^ HISTORY OF THE 

William Goddard — Thomas — William — m. Bet- 
sey Blodgett, of Templeton. Lived on the Jonathan 
Thurber farm, now owned by Chas. H. Cass ; has 
now removed from town. Had six children, viz. : 
Henry P., Geo. W., Ellen, Jane, Mary, and Willie. 
His wife d. Feb. 14, 1S65, aged 41. 

Zcrah C. Goddard, m. Lydia, dr. of Chandler 
Bryant, April 10, 1848. Lived on the Thomas 
Wooley farm, the place now occupied by Andrew 
Amadon. She d. Feb. 3, 1870; he now resides in 
Warwick. Had four children, viz. : Seloria L., b. 
Aug. 19, 1850, m. Andrew Amadon; Delina C, b. 
May 10, 1852 ; Walter Z., b. Feb. 6, 1857 ; and Milo, 
who died in infancy. 

GOODWIN. 

Richard Goodzvin, m. April 24, 1794, Urania Car- 
penter. Bought of Daniel Carpenter, the farm since 
known as the Reuben Martin place, and there lived 
some years. 

GOODNOW. 

William W. Goodnozu, from Swansey, 1877 ; lives 
on the Dr. Ebenezer Swan farm. Has no family. 

GOODNOUGH. 

Burton W. Goodnough, m. Mary, dr. of Horace 
Merrilield. Has two children. He lives with Merri- 
field. 

GRAVES, 

Willard R. Graves, from Guilford, Vt., m. Sarah 
J., dr. of EH W. Reynolds, July 14, 1868. Is a tin 
pedlar. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 399 

GRANT. 

Alphcus Grant, from Fitzwilliam, m., Jan. 17, 
1802, Phillis, dr. of Anthony Sweet. He d. about 
1806, and his widow 2d m. Jacob Whitcomb. Had 
Elizabeth, b. Aug. 24, 1802; Mary, b. Nov. 12, 
1804, m. Ephraim Taft. 

GREEN. 

Wfn. Green, a soldier in the war of the Revolution, 
lived several years on the old turnpike east of Silas 
Jillson's, near Tully brook, about 1820. Had Loam- 
ma and Millie. 

Loamma Green, son of Wm., m. Maria, dr. of 
Jeremiah Amadon. Removed to Swansey. 

GROUT. 

Nahum Grout, m., July 7, 1805, Sibbel, dr. of Mi- 
chael Barrus. Lived on the Capt. Oliver Capron 
place, 1809, now owned by St. Clair. Flad Maria, 
Eli, Marcus, Edwin, William, and Horace. He d. 
in Warwick, May 12, 1851, aged 83. 

GROVER. 

Nahum Grover, m., March 20, 1823, Almira, dr. 
of Luke Harris. Had one son, Lorenzo H., who d. 
Jan. 18, 1865, aged 41, and one dr., Delila. Almira 
d. Dec. 6, 1851, aged 45. Mr. Grover left his family, 
and went to parts unknown. ' 

GUILD. 

Nafthali Guild lived in 1789 on the place known 
as the Jeremiah Barrus farm, L. 3, R. 10. He re- 
moved to N. Y. 



400 HISTORY OF THE 

HAMILTON. 

Calvin L. Hamilton^ from Barre, Mass., m. Roxie 
P., dr. oflsrael Martin, Sept. i6, 1874. ^^ came to 
town, 1882. No children. 

HAMMOND. 

Simpson Hammond lived on the west side of the 
road north of Joseph Newell's. He bought the place, 
1776, of Richard Peters, jr. ; he removed from town 
about 1794- Had nine children. 

Orrin Hammond, from Winchester, resides on the 
place formerly known as the Grindall Taylor farm. 
Have no record of family. 

HALE. 

Daniel Hale was probably f. s. on the Hale place, 
north-east of Second mountain. Had eight children, 
viz. : John, Daniel, Esther, Lucy, Polly, Levi, and 
Israel C. 

Israel C. Hale — Daniel — m. Parmelia Austin, 
1833. He lived on his father's place. Had Lovina, 
b.June I, 1834, ^'^- Nahum Bullock; Mary, b. Aug. 
17, 1836, m. Alvin Kempton ; twins, b. 1838, d. ; Par- 
melia A., b. S^pt. 3, 1840, m. Slate: Israel C, b. 
Nov. 19, 1842 ; Rhoda G., b. March 11, 1849, "^- ^' 
G. Waldo. He d. Sept. 22, 1874, aged 75 ; she d. 
i860, aged 50. 

yokn Hale — Daniel — settled on a farm west of 
Elias Taylor's. He removed to Winchester about 
1840. Had John, Jeremiah, Nancy, Otis, Lydia, and 
Mary Ann. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 4OI 



HANDY. 



Paul Handy, from Smithfield, b. April i, 1737, m. 

Annie , b. March 8, 1739; lived on the place 

now owned by George Bowen, f. s. by John Sprague. 
Had seven children, viz. : Elizabeth, m. Anthony 
Sweet; Lucy, b. Dec. 22, 1766, m. Nicholas Al- 
drich ; Dinah, b. Jan. i, 1768, m. Wilderness Mar- 
tin ; Margaret, b. Nov. 26, 1772 ; George, b. May 
10, 1775 '■> Prudence, b. Aug. 29, 1777, m. Hendrick 
Martin ; Lillis, b. March i, 1779, m. Hatsel Wing. 

George Handy — Paul — m., Sept. 28, 1797, Ruth, 
dr. of Zacheus Estes ; lived on his father's farm. 
Had fourteen children, viz. : Rufus, b. Aug. 4, 1798 ; 
Paul, b. Aug. 31, 1800, m. Lucy Grant, and lives in 
Fitzwilliam ; James H., b. 1802, m. Clarissa Kings- 
ley, d. July 28, i860; Welcome, b. 1804, m. Elvira, 
dr. of Nathaniel Aldrich, removed to Danby, Vt. ; 
Lois, b. Aug., 1806, m. Jonathan Burgess; George, 
b. 1808, m. Hubbard ; Polly, b. Jan. 28, 1810, m. 
James Ballou ; Benjamin, b. 1812, m. Elvira Nor- 
ton ; Henry, b. 1814, m. Louisa, dr. of Elisha 
Perry, removed to York state ; Hosea, b. 1816, 
removed to York state; Benoni, b. 1818, m. dr. of 
Rev. David Pickering; Maria, b. 1821, m. Wheaton 
C. Jillson ; Stephen, b. 1823 ; Ruth, b. 1825. He d. 
Dec. 26, 1863; she d. June 28, 1861, aged 84. No 
record of family. 

Benjamin Handy — George — Paul — m. Elvira 
C. Norton, of Troy. Had George B., b. Sept. 8, 
1838. He d. in Pittsburg, Pa., i860; she d. 1839. 

Stephen Handy — George — Paul — m. Amina, 
dr. of Jonathan Cass ; lived with his father. He d. 
26 



402 HISTORY OF THE 

Oct. 25, 185 1, aged 30. Had two children, viz. : 
Estella A., b. April 29, 1850; Amelia P., b. Feb 28, 
1852. 

George B. Handy — Benjamin — George — Paul 
— m. Eliza Jane, dr. of Elisha Bolles, Sept. 12, 
1863 ; lived awhile on the Handy farm, and removed 
to the Bassett place, 1868. Had Lyman A., b. May 
5, 1864; Etta E., b. Oct. 28, 1867. 

HARKNESS. 

Adam Harkness, of Smithfield, with his brother 
James, came from near Belfast, Ireland, where their 
father, John, from Scotland, resided at the time. 
They landed in Boston about 1730. James w^ent on 
a voyage to the West Indies, and there died. Adam 
went at first to Lunenburg, Mass., and from thence 
to Smithfield, R. I., where he m. Mary Gaskill. 
Adam was b. 1710, and d. Oct. 25, 1793, aged 83 
years. 

Nathan Harkness, son of Adam Harkness of Smith- 
field, b. Sept. 4, 1745, ist m. Hannah, dr. of Joseph 
Buffum, of Smithfield ; 2dm. Susanna, dr. of James 
Ballou, June 4, 1775 ; was f. s. on L. 4, R. 5, in 
1768. This place was south-west of where Henry 
Ballou now lives. He removed, 1773, to L. 5, R. 6, 
which he bought of Jona. Buffum, and where he 
spent the remainder of his days. He d. Sept., 1822, 
aged 77; Hannah d. Nov. 15, 1773; Susanna d. 
1833. Of the buildings, only the house is now 
standing, in a dilapidated condition. Had fourteen 
children. By Hannah had John, b. Aug. 14, 1767 ; 
Nathan, b. Feb. 24, 1769, removed to Saratoga Co., 
N. Y. ; Cynthia, b. Dec. 14, 1770, m. Samuel Dows 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 4O3 

of Salisbury, N. H. ; Buffum, b. Feb. 23, 1772 ; 
Hannah, b. Oct. 3, 1773, m. Richard Sargent, and 
removed to near Syracuse, N. Y. By Susanna had 
James, b. Oct. 14, 1776, m. Sarah Farnum, and 
lived in Leicester, Mass. ; Elijah, b. Sept. 15, 1777 ; 
Sarah, b. Sept. 30, 1779, "^- Artemas Bassett ; 
George, b. Jan. 7, 1782; Obed, b. Feb. 16, 1784; 
Susanna, b. March 24, 1786, m. Daniel Bassett ; 
Elisha, b. Jan. 7, 1789; Aaron, b. Oct. 14, 1791 ; 
Meribah, b. March 12, 1796, m. Asa Chase, and 
lived in Ilinesburg, Vt. 

John Harkness — Nathan — istm., Jan. 8, 1787, 
Elizabeth, dr. of Jonathan Sweet; 2d m. Hannah, 
dr. of Nathan Bowen ; was f. s. on L. 12, R. i, the 
place now owned by Daniel Hubbard ; removed to 
the Jerahmeel Allen place in 1841. He d. Aug. 22, 
1851, aged 84 ; Hannah, d. Jan. 21, 1862, aged 77. 
Had b}^ Elizabeth : Robert, b. June 3, 1787 ; Han- 
nah, b. March 14, 1789, m. Thomas Bowen 2d; Buf- 
fum, b. March 11, 1791 ; Mary, b. April 25, 1793, 
m. Aaron Aldrich ; Ruth, b. April 8, 1795, m. 
Ezekiel Nelson ; Elizabeth, b. April 28, 1797, m. 
Jacob Patch; John, b. Dec. 11, 1798, d. Feb. 3, 
1801 ; Amie, b. Oct. 23, 1800, m. Otis Whipple, jr. ; 
John, b. Oct. I, 1802, d. Sept. 18, 1805 ; Nathan, b. 
Aug. 13, 1804, d. Sept. 12, 1805 ; Nancy, b. July 8, 
1806, m. Timothy Richardson, of Hinsdale. Had 
by Hannah : James, b. Dec. 23, 1818 ; Elisha, b. 
June 2, 1821 ; John, b. Aug. 11, 1825. 

D)-. Buffiim Harkncss — Nathan — m. Nancy Fos- 
ter, of Royalston ; lived a while in a house on the 
corner opposite Peregrine Wheeler's ; thence removed 
to western New York about 1804. 



404 HISTORY OF THE 

James Harkness — Nathan — m., May 31, 1797, 
Sarah Farnum, dr. of Moses and Elizabeth Farnum, 
of Uxbridge ; she was b. April 7, 1780. James was 
brought up in the family of Benedict Arnold (not the 
traitor), of Uxbridge. After his marriage, he lived 
in Leicester. Had Moses, b. Jan. 20, 1799, d. June 
I, i860; Nathan, b. Feb. 28, 1801, d. Aug. 13, 
1873 ; Elijah, b. July 28, 1805, d. Dec. 3, 1835. He 
d. April 27, 1806, soon after the birth of his son 
Elijah, and his widow m. Caleb Wall, Aug. 5, 1807. 
By the last marriage she had seven children, of 
whom two d. young, the other five being Thomas, 
James H., Joseph S., Caleb A., and Sarah E. 
Caleb Wall d. in Worcester, Jan. 29, 1846; Sarah, 
his wife, d. Sept. 10, 1853. 

Elijah Harkness — Nathan — m. Martha, dr. of 
William Bassett, 1809 ; lived on the place now oc- 
cupied by Roscoe Weeks until about 1828, when he 
removed to the old homestead, and from thence, 1841, 
removed to the place where his son Dennis now lives. 
He d. 1865 ; she d. Jan. 31, 1854. Had ten chil- 
dren, viz. : Elijah, b. Oct. 31, 1810, d. Aug. 28, 
1835 5 Martha, b. Oct. 22, 1811, m. John Aldrich, d. 
Jan. 31, 1854 '■> William, b. July 17, 1813, d. Oct. 28, 
1850; Maria, b. Sept. 22, 1814, m. Jedediah Buf- 
fum, d. July, 1870; Nathan, b. April 8, 1816, d. 
June 24, 1849; Dennis, b. Dec. 25, 1817 ; Ruth, b. 
Feb. 24, 1820, m. Washburn, d. 1881 ; Mahala, b. 
Jan. 23, 1822, m. Almando Ballon; Lucy, b. Jan. 6, 
1825, m. Addison Paine ; Elisha, b. Dec. 27, 1826. 

Georo;e Harkness — Nathan — m. Betsey, dr. of 
Enoch Southwick, 1805 ; was the first blacksmith at 
the Four corners, about 1817 ; lived on the Joseph 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 4O5 

Wing farm, and on the John Pickering place until 
1825, when he removed to Starksboro', Vt., where he 
d. July 10, 1854; Betsey, his wife, d. Oct. 7, 1851. 
Had seven children, viz. : Susanna, b. July 27, 1806 ; 
James, b. Oct., 1807, d. 1882; George, b. June 23, 
1809 ; Albert, b. June 21, 1811, d. 1856 ; Jesse S., b. 
July 27, 1813 ; Mary S., b. Nov. i, 1816: Betsey, b. 
June 9, 1819. 

Ohcd Ilarkncss — Nathan — m., Jan. 19, 1853, 
Ruth, dr. of Moses Allen, and widow of David Ran- 
dall. Removed to Keene ; d. Oct., 1866, aged 82 ; 
she d. March 2, 1881. 

Elisha Ilarkncss — Nathan — m. Lucy, dr. of Ab- 
ner Twitchell. Was in company with Daniel Bassett 
at the Four corners, about 181 7. Removed to Wor- 
cester, from thence to Starksboro', Vt., and finally re- 
turned to Worcester ; d. May 14, 1845 ; she d. about 
1877. 

Aaron Harkncss — Nathan — m. Phebe Bennett, 
of Sag Harbor, L. I. At the age of 21 he went to 
Ohio, returned to Richmond 1827, from thence re- 
moved to Sag Harbor, where he d. Dec. 2, 1882, 
aged 91 years. Had two children, Elizabeth and 
Wellington, who reside in Sag Harbor. 

yamcs Harkness — John — Nathan — m. Harriet 
Newton, of Fitzwilliam, Oct. 11, i860. He lived a 
few years on the Silas Jillson farm, afterwards re- 
moved to the Smith place in Fitzwilliam, in 1875, 
where he now resides. She d. Oct. 18, 1882, aged 52. 

Elisha Harkncss — John — Nathan — ist m. Sarah 
Ann Burgess, Sept. 24, 1840; 2d m. widow Eliza 
Ann Kendall, Jan. i860. Lived on his father's place 



406 HISTORY OF THE 

at first. Removed to Iowa, 1855 ; returned and 
lived in Fitzwilliam, and finally enlisted in the i6th 
Reg. N. H. volunteers, in the late war, and d. at 
BrashearCity,La.,May 31, 1863. By Sarah Ann had 
Joseph, b. June 24, 1841 ; Mandana, b. Dec, 1842 ; 
Adaline, b. Dec. 1843, d. ; Albert, b. 1849 ' John Ed- 
win, b. 1853 ; Charles F., b. Jan., 1856 ; three children 
d. in infancy. Sarah Ann d. March, 1856. 

yohn Hm'kncss , jr. — John — Nathan — m. Cyn- 
thia, dr. of Reuben Phillips. Lived with his father 
at the Jerahmeel Allen place, and soon after his 
father's death removed to Iowa, where he and his wife 
soon died. Had Lyman, b. 1844 ' Nancy, Mary, and 
some others. 

Dennis Harkncss — Elijah — Nathan — m. Har- 
riet, dr. of Alba Houghton, of Vernon, Vt. Lives on 
the place first settled by William Salisbury, L. 2, R. 
4. The large two-story house on the premises was 
built by Jedediah Buftum 3d. Had Sarah H., b. 
March 21, 1865 ; Earle A., b. Sept. 15, 1868 ; Daisy 
B., b. April 27, 1870. 

Elisha Harkfiess — Elijah — Nathan — ist m. Sal- 
ina Farwell, of Townsend, Vt. ; 2d m. Lorina, dr. of 
Luther Ballou. Removed to Hinesburg, Vt. He d. 
Dec, 1882. 

HARRIS. 

Anthony Harris, son of Richard Harris, of Smith- 
field, was f. s. on L. 12, R. 5, the place now owned 
by Charles H. Lyon. He m. Ruth Broadway. The 
time of his advent here was about 1760. Had by 
Ruth, his wife, eleven children, viz. : Thomas, b. 
May 19, 1761, m. Eunice Lampson, of Athol : Mer- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 4O7 

cey, b. Oct. ii, 1762, m. David Ballou ; Ama, b. 
March 19, 1764, m. David Bennett; Lydia, b. Jan. 
19, 1766; Jeremiah, b. May 8, 1768; William, b. 
March 8, 1773; Caleb, b. July 19, 1777, m. Lucy 
Ellis, dr. of Dea. Martin, he removed to Hartford, 
Washington Co., N. Y. ; David, b. March i, 1779, 
m. Wealthy Garnsay, dr. of William ; Luke, b. Oct. 
24, 1781 ; Linday, b. March 15, 1784, m. John 
Crane ; Delilah, b. Sept. 18, 1788, m. Luther Cook. 
He d. March 20, 1817, aged 81 ; she d. Jan. 8, 1830, 
aged 94. 

Caft. Luke Harris — Anthony — m., July 8, 1802, 
Asenath Cole, dr. of Ebenezer ; 2d m., Feb. 27, 1818, 
Susanna Jillson, dr. of Stephen Jillson. Lived on his 
father's place. He d. Sept. 25, 1865, aged 84; Ase- 
nath d. March 9, 1817, aged 33 ; Susanna d. May 
7, 1878, aged 85. Had by Asenath: Dilla, b. 1804, 
d. 1819 ; Lydia, b. 1802, d. 1865, m. Leason Martin; 
Almira, b. 1806, ist m. Nahum Grover, 2d m. Caleb 
Chase ; Lorenzo and Loanza, b. 1809 ; Marinda, b. 
1811, d. 1828; Ansel, b. March 29, 1814 ; Fanny, d. 
young. By Susanna had Asenath, b. Nov., 1821, m. 
Orrin Starkey ; Emily B., b. Dec. 27, 1823, m. N. F. 
Newell. 

Lorenzo Hai-ris — Luke — Anthony — m. Betsey, 
dr. of David Martin. She d. Feb., 1875. Lived on 
the Joseph Holbrook farm. Had Joseph H., b. April 
29, 1837 ; Olive E., b. Jan. 21, 1839; David M., b. 
Dec. 16, 1840; Caleb C, b. Dec. 16, 1843 ; Lorenzo 
and Alonzo, twins, b. Jan. 21, 1846; two others died 
in infancy. He now lives in Orange. 

Ansel t^rris — Luke — Anthony — m. , Jan. i , 
1839, Elizjk dr. of Samuel Parker. Lives on the 



408 HISTORY OF THE 

Benjamin Aldrich place at North Richmond. Had 
DeHlah, b. Oct. 17, 1844, ^- Henry R. Martin. 

Sylvanus Hmris, brother of Anthony, settled near 
David Russell, part of L. 14, R. 5. 

Ui-iah Harris, brother of Anthony, was probabl}^ 
f. s. on L. 15, R. 4, the place now occupied by Jos. 
Swan. 

Stephen Harris was from Gloucester, R. I. ; m. 
Charlotte, dr. of Jesse Ballou, Aug. 24, 1779. ^^ 
removed to Richmond, 1780, and bought the farm, L. 
23, R. 4, of Oliver Mason, 1787. Was a carpenter 
and wheelwright. Had by Charlotte, his wife, seven 
children, viz. : Elisha, b. Dec. 23, 1780, d. about 1800 ; 
Sarah, b. Sept. 29, 1783; Olive, b. June 12, 1788; 
Stephen, b. Sept. 25, 1790, lived in Troy; David, b. 
Sept. 12, 1793 ; Viana, b. July 24, 1796, m. Rufus 
Taft, son of Nathaniel; Susanna, b. June 17, 1799? 
m. Alvin Cass. He 2d m. Elizabeth Cornel, Jan. 8, 
1803. He d. May 21, 1833, aged 75; Charlotte d. 
Nov. 25, 1801, aged 39; Elizabeth d. Dec. 25, 1823, 
aged 62. 

Elisha Harris — Stephen — m., Oct 6, 1802, Lois, 
dr. of Levi Aldrich. He died about 1801, and his 
widow 2d m. Ezra Bowen. 

Stephen Harris — Stephen — m. and lived in Troy, 
No record of family. 

David Harris — Stephen — m., Feb. 26, 1815, 
Polly, dr. of Peleg Bowen, Had Alcista, m. Edwin 
Cass; Jas. M., William R., David W., Louisa A., 
Mary E. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 4O9 

yamcs M. Harris — David — Stephen — m. Lucy 
Emerson. He lived next north of the Ananias Al- 
drich. place. He d. 1854 ' ^^^ ^ ^^*' '^* Martin 
Davis, lives in Keene. 

David W. Harris — David — Stephen — m. Mary, 
dr. of Martin Cass ; lives in Swansey. Had by Mary, 
six children. 2d m. Maria A. Cheney, and by her 
had five children. He is now living with his third , 
wife, the former ones being dead. 

Christopher Harris,^ brother of Stephen, m. 1787. 
He lived N. E, of the Levi Aldrich place, until 1796, 
when he removed to Troy. Had Luke, who resided 
a while in this town, on the Noah Aldrich farm. 

Oliver Harris, b, Dec. 10, 1768, m. Priscilla, dr. 
of Wm. Cook. Had William, b. Aug. 3, 1791 ; Lu- 
cretia, b. Feb. i, 1794. He lived on the Hendrick 
Martin place about 1790 ; he removed with the Cook 
family to Vt. 

HAYWARD. 

Zadoc Hayward was a blacksmith for Peregrine 
Wheeler. Lived in house on corner opposite Wheeler's, 
about 1820. 

HERRICK. 

yohn W. Hcrrick, removed from Royalston to the 
place near the Four corners, now owned by Henry 
Whipple, 1844. 1st m. Maria N., dr. of Esther Hill ; 
2d m. widow Juliette Kelton, dr. of Samuel Sprague, 
1862. He removed to Keene, 1864. He died June, 
1880. Maria d. April 7, 1861. Juliette 3d m. E. A. 
Whipple, lives in Keene. 



4IO HISTORY OF THE 

HEWS. 

yames Hews, from Gloucester, R. I., m, Mary, dr. 
of Nathan Taft, of Uxbridge, Aug. 25, 1785. Lived 
on L. 7, R. II, the place since owned by Amos 
Garnsey, and Jeremiah Barrus, jr. Had four children. 
Disappeared from our records before 1810. 

Benjamin Hews, probably a brother of James, had 
Laura, b. Jan. 7, 1795 '■> Derrick, b. Sept. 25, 1796. 

Derrick Hexus, son of Benjamin, m. Jemima, dr. 
of Gideon Man, jr., Jan. 30, 1820. Lived where 
Mrs. Eltheda Aldrich now resides. Removed the old 
Meader house there about 1828. Had Geo. O., b. 
Jan. 30, 1820 ; John O., b. April 30, 1830. Removed 
from town, 1838. 

HILLS. 

Deacon William Hills, from Swansey, N. H., m. 
Abigail Frary ; lived on L. 14, R, i, the place now 
occupied by E. Putney, and first settled by Josiah 
Woodward, or Oliver Ormsby. Had Abigail, b. 
Nov. II, 1782 ; Hannah, b. Dec. 24, 1784 ; Nathaniel, 
b. April 14, 1787 ; Sarah, b. April 7, 1789. She d. 
Jan. 3, 1850, aged 88 : he d. in Brookline, Vt., Oct. 
18, 1859, aged 96. 

Nathaniel Hills — William — m., Aug. 28, 1811, 
Mary, dr. of Reuben Randall ; removed to Newfane, 
Vt., about 1813. Had Reuben, b. March 5, 1812 ; 
Silence, b. 1813 ; William, b. June, 1815 ; Mar}- , b. 
1817 ; Nathaniel, b. March 5, 1819 ; Sarah, b. April 
27, 1821 ; Miranda, b. Jan. i, 1824. He d. in Bi-ook- 
line. Vt., 1857, aged 70; she d. in Newfane, Vt., 
1836, aged 50. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 4II 

Nathaniel Hills ^ jr. — Nathaniel — William — m. 
Almira A. Blood, of Putney, Vt., May 14, 1850; 
she d. Oct. 16, 1867 ; lived on the Paul Boyce place 
until 1874, when he removed to the Elisha Perry 
place, where he now resides. Had Edwin N., b. 
Feb. 10, 1851, d. Sept. 15, 1870; Arthur W., b. 
Nov. 5, 1852, d. Aug. 18, 1873 ; Leslie R., b. Oct. 
19, 1855, d. May 23, 1883; Mary J., b. Jan. 7, 
1858; Ethel A., b. Feb. 21, i860; Bertha A., b. 
Sept. 18, i86i ; Ellen A., b. July 24, 1863 ; Charles 
S., b. Oct. 2, 1865. 

HILL. 

Levi Hill, from Pittsfield, Vt., m., Feb. 20, 1850, 
Mary Ann, dr. of Jarvis Weeks ; moved to the old 
Gideon Man place, at the Four corners, 1876. Had 
George E., b. June 17, 185 1 ; Charles F., b. June 7, 
1856; Benjamin F., b. Sept. 11, 1858; Mary M., b. 
Feb. 20, 1863; Kate A., b. June 22, 1866; Hattie 
M., b. June 6, 1872. He d. Jan. 9, 1883. 

HIX. 

Ephraim, Oliver, Peleg, Barnard, Samuel, David, 
Simeon, and Asa Hix, were from Rehobath, and 
were early settlers in the town. The name long ago 
disappeared from the list of residents. 

Dea. Ejyhraim Hix m. Mary Bowen, and was f. s. 
on L. I, R. 6, the place recently owned by Ozro T. 
Cass. The house, which stood on the west side of 
the road, was demolished years ago. Had Ephraim, 
Jabez, Elizabeth, Mary, Joanna, b. Oct. 14, 177 1 ; 
and Lydia. He d. 1822 ; she d. 1810. 

Oliver Hix m., April 17, 1776, Ruth Garnsey, 
probably a sister of Deacon Amos Garnsey ; was f. s. 



412 HISTORY OF THE 

on L. 21, R. 9, on Warwick, next south of the 
Kempton place. He d. 181 1. Had eight children, 
viz.: Lillis, b. Dec. 30, 1776, m, Luther Cook: 
Jonathan, b. Sept. 17, 1778, m. Abigail Holbrook, of 
Swansey ; Lois, b. Sept. 13, 1780; James, b. Sept. 
16, 1782, m. Betsey Smith, of Warwick; John, b. 
Nov. 15, 1784; Daniel, b. Nov. 4, 1786; Jacob, b. 
1788; Gideon, b. 1790. 

Asa Hix was f. s. on L. 11, R. 9, east of where 
Amos Garnsey now lives. 

Barnard Hix was f. s. on L. 13, R. 3, on Grass}'^ 
hill. His name is entitled to special mention, as he 
was a soldier of the Revolution who lost his life while 
in the service, leaving a wife and four children, the 
eldest of which was only eight, and the youngest less 
than a year old. By his wife Jane he had Dasa, b. 
Aug. 27, 1768; Stephen, b. Aug. 3, 1770; Abigail, 
b. Sept. I, 1772 ; Althear, b. Feb., 1776. 

Gideon Hix — Oliver — m. Olive, dr. of Nathaniel 
A. Bowen, Jan. 21, 1816. He removed to Monroe, 

Mass. 

Pelcg Hix, f. s. on L. 21, R. 9, where Caleb 
Curtis lived. 

David Hix m. Mary, dr. of John Sprague. Had 
three children. Removed from town about 1780. 

HOLBROOK. 

Peter Holbrook, son of Samuel and Hannah, of 
Uxbridge, b. 1740, was f. s., in 1762, on L. 19, R. 
8, the farm known as the Joseph Buffum place. He 
bought a farm in Winchester, 1779; sold his home 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 413 

place to George BufFum, 1799. He removed to 
Swansey, 1796. Had by Lydia his wife, tw-elve 
children, of which Joseph, b. Oct. 30, 1765, only re- 
mained in Richmond. Peter and Samuel probably 
settled in Swansey. 

yoscph Holbrook — Peter — m., Dec. 9, 1790, 
Lucina, dr. of Nicholas Cook; lived on part of L. 3 
and 4, R. 9, which had been owned by Isquire 
Whipple and Ivory Snow, and is the place next north 
of Curtis Parker's, and is now unoccupied. He d. 
April 8, 1835 '' she d. March 11, 1842. 

David Ifolbrook, b. Sept. 4, 1767, son of Micah 
and Rhoda Holbrook, of Uxbridge, bought the Con- 
stant Barney farm, L. 14, R. 10, known as the Jonas 
Tvvitchell place. He removed to Swansey about 
1824. He m. Sarah Arnold, and by her had Ann, 
m. Ira Aldrich ; Rhoda, m. Benjamin Kelton ; Mary, 
m. Joseph Randall ; Virgil, m. Rowena Thompson ; 
Olive, m. David Aldrich, of Swansey ; Betsey, m. 
Pratt ; Lorenzo, m. Electa Rogers ; Aurilla, m. Slade. 
He d. Jan. 17, 1852, age 84. 

Enos Holbrook, brother of David, from Uxbridge, 
b. Dec. 16, 1772, m., Dec. 14, 1797, Elizabeth, dr. 
of Timothy Thompson. He lived in the old house on 
the Thompson place until he built the new brick 
house on the turnpike about 1824. He removed to 
Lamoile, Bureau Co., 111., 1834, together with all his 
sons and daughters, in emigrant wagons, journeying 
three months — a remarkable exodus, certainly. Had 
Enos, b. June 23, 1799 ; Elizabeth, b. June 15, 1801 ; 
Sarah, b. May 3, 1803, m. Ono T. Cass : Ejinice, b. 
June 30, 1806, m. Stephen Fellows ; David, b. March 



414 HISTORY OF THE 

10, 1808, d. soon after the removal to 111. ; Jonathan, b. 
March 7, 1810 ; Rachel, b. 1812. 

Enos Holbrook, jr. — Enos — m., March 21, 181 2, 
Jerusha, dr. of Michael Barrus. Remgved with his 
father's family to 111., and afterwards to Nebraska with 
his son Joseph, where he d. in 1875. She d. June 
12, 1878. Had Joseph B., Hiram, Eliza A., Henry, 
George, and Stephen F. All of these are now dead 
except Stephen F. 

'Jonathan Holbrook — Enos — m. a dr. of Dea. 
Angier, of Fitzwilliam. He peddled wooden ware 
for several years previous to 1834, when he removed 
with the Holbrook family to Lamoile, 111. He there 
erected the first upright frame house in the place, 
which he kept as a hotel for some years. He was 
afterwards engaged in mercantile pursuits in the same 
village. He was a deacon of the Baptist church, and 
was evidently highly respected ; he was possessed of 
considerable property at one time, the most of which 
it is reported that he finally lost. He d. 1877. Had 
three sons and two daughters. 

Elisha M. Holbrook, from Randolph, Mass., m., 
March 31, 1832, Harriet, dr. of Nathaniel Naromore. 
Lived a while at the Four corners, and then removed 
to Randolph, about 1842, where he soon after died. 
Had George Franklin, b. May 27, 1833 ; Loren F., 
b. 1837, ^' young; Loren F., b. July 30, 1841, d. 
Sept. 14, 1879. "The sons resided in Boston. She 
d. 1883. 

HOWE. 

Dr. Amos Howe came from Brookfield about 1797 ; 
m., March 15, 1798, Candace, dr. of Jedediah Buf- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 415 

fum. Dr. Howe, in addition to his professional busi- 
ness, kept a public house where Eli W. Raynolds now 
lives. About 1812 he went into the army on the 
northern frontier as a surgeon, and died in the ser- 
vice. She d. June 6, 1846, aged 70. Had six chil- 
dren, viz.: Polly, d. in infancy; Jedediah B., b. 
March 14, 1800, m. Anna Garnsay, and removed to 
Worcester; Eliza, b. May 9, 1802, m. Jonas Twitch- 
ell ; Eli, b. June 24, 1804, m. Eunice Pickering, he 
d. in N. Y. city ; Horace, b. June 26, 1806, d. in New 
Orleans ; Candace, b. May 19, 1808, m. Jarvis Weeks, 
Esq. 

B 020)11(1)1 Howe, son of Nahum Howe, of Fitzwil- 
liam, 1st m., Jan. i, 1838, Hannah, dr. of Jacob Whit- 
comb ; 2d m., Oct. 2, 1855, Cynthia, sister of Han- 
nah. Lived on the place recently owned and occu- 
pied by Edwin N. Bowen. Had the saw-mill which 
was built by James Boyce, now gone. Had by Han- 
nah : Charles, b. Sept. 14, 1838 ; Isaac W., b. May 
1840, d. July 3, 1842 ; Elizabeth, b. June 10, 1843 ; 
Orrin B., b. Aug. 2, 1847. Had by Cynthia: Cora 
M., b. April 20, 1859, ^' ^^^- ^' ^^^^ ' Emily S., b. 
Nov. 5, 1861 ; Elbridge, b. Jan. 5, 1864; Ephraim 
W., b. Sept. 13, 1867. He d. Jan. 20, 1877 ; Han- 
nah d. Dec. 18, 1854. Cynthia lives in Troy. 

Or)-in B. Hoxvc — Bowman — m., March 17, 1872, 
Emma, dr. of Amos A. Flint. Lives on the place 
and owns the mill built by Dennis Harkness on Fall 
brook in the Pond woods. Had Edna, b. Jan. 2, 
1876; Carl E., b. Aug. 31, 1878. 

George W. Hozve came to town about 1868. Kept 
the Widow Howe tavern four years, and the old 



4l6 HISTORY OF THE 

Wakefield house about three. The latter he owned, 
and finally sold to the present proprietor, J. Allen, 
1875. He d. July, 1882. 



HOWARD. 

yohn L. Ilozvard, from Stoneham, Mass., m. Mary 
E. Bancroft, Aug. 14, 1853. He removed to the Jer- 
emiah Bolles farm, 1874, where he now resides. 
Has Lorie A., b. June 20, 1856, and M. Jennie, b. 
Oct. 30, 1858. 

Loi'ic A. Howard — John L. — m., March, 1879, 
Rhoda E., dr. of Curtis Parker. Lives on the same 
place with his father. Had Vera V., b. Jan. 5, 1880. 

Alva Howard m., April 16, 1816, Hannah, dr. of 
Zephaniah Bowen. He d. soon after, and she 2d m. 
Robert Boyce. Had one son, Romanzo L. Howard, 
who went to Ala., and finally came north and m. 
Olive J. A., dr. of Nathan Bowen ; he d. soon after 
his return to the south, and his widow, with an infant 
dr., returned to Richmond soon after. Olive, 2d m. 
Thompson, and now resides in Troy. 

HUBBARD. 

Daniel W. Huhbard, b. in Walpole, N. H., May 
10, 1823, formerly lived in Clinton, Mass. Now re- 
sides on the John Harkness place. 

HUNTLEY. 

yona. T. G. Huntley came to town 1855. Lived 
on the Oliver Puffer place. Removed to Svvansey, 
1883. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 417 

HUNTING. 

Samuel Hunting wd.'s, f. s. on L. 36, R. 3, the place 
now owned by Henry Curtis. He sold to Preserved 
Whipple, and moved to a house north-east of the old 
place, and there lived until about 1800, when he 
bought the Sprague mills, and lived in the old house 
near by, where he died by suicide. Had by Mary, 
his wife, John, Joseph, and Samuel, and three drs. 

HUNT. 

Williani Hunt, of Keene, m. Nicene, dr. of Capt. 
Amos Boom. Was a blacksmith ; had a shop near 
Capt. Boorn's in 1830. He d. 1832 ; she d. Nov. i, 
1857. 

Rev. yo/in Hunt was resident Baptist minister in 
1850. 1st m. Caroline, dr. of Reuben Rich. She 
died, and he 2d m. Maria Forbes, dr. of Calvin. He 
went to Ohio. 

INGALLS. 

Henry /ngalls, b. in Cumberland, R. I., Oct. 12, 
1738, m. Sibbel Carpenter, who was b. Feb. 26, 
1740 ; was f. s. on L. 2, R. 6, the place now owned 
by Mrs. Benjamin Clark, and heretofore occupied by 
Joseph Cass and Samuel Curtis. He came in 1763 ; 
was town clerk from 1766 to 1792, a longer period 
than any other one has filled the office in the history 
of the town ; was the only justice of the peace whose 
name appears on the records for many years. He 
was the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Garfield, the 
mother of the late President Garfield. He removed 
to Worcester, in the state of New York, 1793. Had 
ten children, viz. : Elizabeth, b. Oct. 5, 1762, m. 
James Cook ; Mehetabel, b. July 21, 1764, m. James 
27 



4l8 HISTORY OF THE 

Ballon, jr. ; Ruth, b. Feb. 3, 1767, m. Benjamin 
Ellis; Riifiis, b. July 23, 1769, m. Lydia Cole, of 
Royalston ; Ebenezer, b. Nov. 17, 1771, m. Mary 
Man, dr. of Gideon Man; Sibbel, b. Nov. 22, 1774; 
Lucy, b. June 24, 1777; Alpha, b. Dec. 16, 1780; 
Henry, b. July 25, 1783, d. Sept., 1783; Sebra, b. 
July 18, 1785. 

Edniond Ingalls ^ from Cumberland, m. Esther ; 

was f. s. on east part of L. 8, R. 4. The place where 
the house stood may still be seen near the top of the 
hill, west of Jesse Bolles'. He removed, 1783, to L. 

12, R. 10, the place where his son Zimri lived for 
some years. Had Benjamin, b. Aug. 18, 1771 ; 
Philip, b. Oct. 17, 1773; Deborah, b. Dec. 9, 1776; 
Otis, b. June 21, 1779, m. Eunice Thompson ; Zimri, 
b. March 21, 1784; Betty, b. May 13, 1781. He d. 
1816. 

Zimri Ingalls — Edmond — m. Parna Howe, sister 
of Dr. Amos Howe, from Brookfield ; lived on his 
father's place ; removed to the Judge Weeks place, 
1837. He d. May 3, 1852, aged 6%\ she d. Oct. 28, 
1852, aged 68. Had nine children, viz. : Harriet, b. 
March 30, 1808, d. June 19, 1835 5 Saphina, b. Dec. 

13, 1810, m. Josiah Bush; Ransom, b. Oct. 9, 1811 ; 
Palina, b. Feb. 20, 1815, m. Allen, of Fitzwilliam ; 
Icibinda, b. Aug. 19, 1818, m. Josiah E. Carter; 
Persis, b. July 25, 1820, m. Mansel M. Blanding ; 
Otis, b. Dec. 31,1822; Jarvis, b. March 31, 1824; 
Amos H., b. July 31, 1827. He was a shoemaker 
— which trade was followed by the following named 
sons : 

Ransom Ino-aUs — Zimri — Edmond — m., Sept. 
20, 1837, Sylphina, dr. of Timothy Pickering. She 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 419 

d. 1844. Lived in Fitzwilliam, Winchester, and 
Troy. He d. Dec. 2, 1882. 

yarvis Ingalls — Zimri — Edmond — m. , June 3, 
1852, Poll}^, dr. of Col. Stephen Buffum ; lives on 
the Judge Weeks place. Had two children, viz. : 
Mary Alice, b. Nov. 25, 1S53, m. N. W. Dickerson ; 
James Edgar, b. Dec. 17, 1865. He d. Oct. 14, 
1883. 

Amos H. lugalls — Zimri — Edmond — m. Polly, 
dr. of Nicholas Cook ; lived in Troy. He d. in 
Gardner, Feb., 1883. 

INGERSOLL. 

Capt. David Ingersoll, a sea captain of Salem, 
bought of Jonathan Jillson, 1794, L- 7, R- 5, on which 
was a two-story house and barn. The situation was 
such as to command a fine view of Cass' pond. The 
place seems to have been selected to gratify and per- 
petuate a taste acquired by long familiarity with the 
ocean. He was unmarried, and died about 1819. 

John Ingersoll, of Salem, bought of David Cass, 
1794, his farm, L. 5 and 6, R. 9, where Thomas God- 
dard since lived. He remained but a short time, sold 
to Ebenezer Blanding, and probably returned again 
to Salem. 

JESSOP. 

'Joseph ycssop lived on L. i, R. 10, the place re- 
cently occupied by John Boyce. Had one son, Joseph, 
who m. Lois, dr. of Stephen Kempton, who lived on 
his father's place. Had by her ten children. He 2d 
m., Aug. 16, 1815, Betsey Rugg ; both of Troy. 



420 



HISTORY OF THE 



JILLSON. 

Paul yUlson, son of Uriah Jillson, who was son of 
Nathaniel, the son of James, the first in this country 
b. in Cumberland, R. I., Dec. 6, 1752, m., Jan. 8 
1778, Martha Clark, of Smithfield, b. April 14, 1755 
Settled, 1779, on L. 14, R. 2, the place afterwards oc 
cupied by his son Paul. Had seven children, viz. 
Rachel, b. Nov. 19, 1778, a deaf mute, d. Jan. 7 
1840; Sarah, b. Aug. 13, 1780, m. Nathan Bullock 
Silas, b. April 15, 1784; Esther, b. April 21, 1787 
m. Jeremiah Bullock; Paul, b. Oct. 21, 1789, Clark 
b. June 10, 1792, d. March 31, 1872; Mercey, b 
April 22, 1795, d. in Cumberland, April 3, 1824 
He d. April 27, 1823 ; she d. Sept. 15, 1828. 

Silas yUlson — Paul — m., Dec. 10, 1808, Eliza- 
beth Cook, b. Aug. 9, 1789. Lived on the Jos. Wing 
farm, the place now owned by Wm. O. Carkin. He 
built the house and barn now on the premises. He 
d. July 28, 1861, aged 77. She d. March 24, 1869, 
aged 79. Had eight children, viz. : Wheaton C, b. 
July 2, 1810, Asena, b. May 24, 1812, d. ; Anson H., 
b. Nov. 27, 1814, d. : Emily S., b. Aug. 7, 1819, d. ; 
Silas G., b. April 6, 1822, d. ; Stephen C, b. May 24, 
1824, d. ; Elizabeth A., b. Sept. 2, 1826, m. Marcus 
M. Bullard, of Swansey ; infant son, b. March 21, 
1831, d. 

Paul yUlson^ jr. — Paul — m. Zilpha, dr. of Jon- 
athan Sweet, jr. Lived on his father's place. Re- 
moved to Warwick, and lived with his son Sylvester. 
He d. Oct. 29, i860, aged 71 ; she d. Jan. 11, 1857, 
aged 64. Had seven children, viz. : Sylvester W., 
b. April 7, 1813, Jonathan S., b. Nov. 10, 1814, d. 
Dec. 4, 1842 ; Emeline R., b. March 7, 1819, d. Nov. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 42I 

27, 1824; George W., b. Dec. 21, 1820, d. Sept. 12, 
1844; Emily M., b. Sept. 23, 1825, m. Jonathan E. 
Minott, lives in Worcester ; Orrin C, b. Dec. 24, 
1827 ; Denzel D., b. June 2, 1830. 

Wheat on C. 7/7/5<?« — Silas — Paul — istm., Feb. 

28, 1833, Eliza, dr. of Nathan Bowen 2d, she d. Aug. 

29, 1842 ; 2d m. Maria, dr. of George Handy, July 17, 
1843. He lived with his father on the home place 
until about 1850, when he removed to the Samuel 
Allen house ; he was killed while felling trees in the 
woods, Sept. 9, 1865, aged 55. Had by Eliza: Lo- 
vina E., b. June 25, 1834, "^- Jo^^'^ H- Bullard, lives 
in Athol ; Silas F., b. May 24, 1836, d. in the army, 
June, 1S65 ; Milton N., b. May 31, 1838, m. Susan 
V. Larrabee, lives in Orange; Anson R., b. April 
28, 1840, killed in the army, May 8, 1864 ; Emily E., 
b. March 15, 1842, m. J. W. Adams, lives in Orange. 
Had by Maria : Almon L., b. May 28, 1844, m. Ella 
Williams, lives in Athol ; Sarah Jane, b. Nov. 29, 
1845, m. J. M. Ballon, d. April 26, 1873 ; Benj. F., 
b. Feb. 3, 1848, d. Feb. 17, 1848 ; Albert E., b. Oct. 
3, 1850, m. Sarah M. Raynalds ; Ella A., b. Jan. 26, 
1852 ; Ellen A., b. Nov. 20, 1855, m. Fred. Naro- 
more; Wheaton B., b. Oct. 6, 1857, died Oct. 20, 
1861 ; Ida May, b. Aug. i, i860, m. Charles Bass, 
lives in Warwick ; Georgiana E., b. Nov. 26, 1863 ; 
Edna G., b. Nov. 20, 1866. 

Albert E. Jilhon — Wheaton C. — Silas — Paul 
— m. Sarah M., dr. of Eli W. Raynolds, 1872 ; lives 
at the Four corners. 

Cap. Stephen Jilhon, brother of Paul, f. s. on 
L. 15, R. 2 (the Kendall farm), ist m., Dec. 13, 



422 HISTORY OF THE 

1761, Hannah Peck; 2d m., Nov. 28, 1791, widow 
Susanna Cole; 3d m., Nov. 16, 1794? Chloe Tol- 
man. No other record of family. He d. Dec, 1801. 
Had children by three wives. • 

'Jonathan yUlson, from Cumberland, m., Feb. 20, 
1752, Chloe Cargill, of Smithfield ; was f. s. on L. 
7, R. 5, in 1766, known as the Ingersoll place. He 
removed to Rutland, 1794, and finally returned to 
Richmond, and d. June, 1803. Had seven children, 
viz. : Naomi, Lydia, Ruth, Orpah, Lucy, David, and 
Mary. 

David yUlson, son of Jonathan, m., Nov. 2, 1783, 
Joanna Thompson. Had two children, viz. : Mary, 
b. June 30, 1785 ; Thompson, b. Feb. 18, 1787: 
Hon. Clark Jillson, formerly mayor of Worcester, is 
said to be a descendant of David. 

Uriah yUlson, of Cumberland, m. Mary, dr. of 
Peleg Taft. He bought the John Bennett farm, 1825, 
and there lived until 1838, when he returned to Cum- 
berland. Had Lucy, m. John Hamilton ; Allen, now 
living in Woonsocket ; and Gilbert, who resides in 

Douglass. 

JOHNSON. 

Nathaniel Johnson, from Bolton, Mass., together 
with his sons John H., Thomas, and Charles, came 
into town about 1852. They lived on the Israel 
Saben farm. The son, John H., continued there 
until 1868. Nathaniel d. Nov. i, 1855, ^^^^ IS- 

JITTEM. 

The Only Colored Family. 
Rciihcn Jittem, a colored man seized on the coast 
of Guinea, in Africa, and brought into Salem and 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 423 

sold as a slave, was emancipated at the time of 
the war of the Revolution on condition that he would 
serve in the army. He came to Richmond about 
1795? probably with the Ingersolls, John or David, 
who came from Salem about that time. He lived 
most of the time in a small house near the Rice 
brook, on the old road to Gaskill hill. He married 
a colored woman from Salem, and had several chil- 
dren, only one of whom lived, named Charles. He 
died about 1820, at Peregrine Wheeler's ; she died a 
short time before. We have no date of either his or 
his wife's death. They were buried in the north-west 
corner of the Friends' burying-ground, where their 
graves are distinguishable. 

Cha7-lcs yittem, son of Reuben, in his boyhood 
lived with Peregrine Wheeler ; afterwards, with Syl- 
vester Aldrich and others. He m., Aug. 18, 1841, 
Eliza Van Vactor, of Worcester, where he went to 
live, and soon after died of poison, it is supposed. 
Sir. transit gIo7'ia 7nundi. 

He waited long to find a wife; 
In finding her, he lost his life. 

JOSSLIN. 

William yosslin, from Cumberland, was f. s. on 
part of L. 4, R. 4, the place south of where Henry 
Ballou now resides. This was probably the place 
where James Ballou, jr., first settled. 

Thomas yosslin, from Cumberland, was f. s. on L. 
4, R. 4; sold to James Ballou, sr., about 1773, and 
removed from town about 1774. Had five children. 



424 HISTORY OF THE 

KELTON. 

Aaron and Rufus Kelton, who settled in Richmond, 
and also George, who married his wife from this town, 
were sons of Enoch Kelton, from Rehobath, who 
settled in the east part of Warwick. 

Aaron Kelton, b. in Rehobath, Sept. 29, 1756, m. 
Rachel Goff. He bought the Threshire farm, L. 
I, R. 12, the place recentl}^ occupied by his son 
Wheaton. No buildings remain on the premises. 
He d. Sept. 18, 1842, aged 86; she d. Aug. 5, 1822, 
aged 66. He 2d m. Lucretia Wilbur, of Ley den, 
Mass. Had by Rachel : Lucretia, b. Feb. 22, 1777, 
d. Jan. 30, 1849, '^ged 72 ; Hannah, b. Dec. 10, 
1783, m. Oliver Barrus ; Olive, b. Jan. 25, 1789, m. 
Thomas Goddard ; Rachel, b. April 16, 1791, d. 
June 13, 1795 ; Asahel, b: July 27, 1795 ; Aaron, b. 
Feb. 20, 1798, d. Aug. 18, 1804; Wheaton, b. Dec. 
28, 1801. 

Asahel KeUon — Aaron — m. Betsey Barrus, dr. of 
Michael, jr., April 21, 1821. He lived on the Capt. 
Michael Barrus place. He d. July 15, 1869, aged 
74 ; she d. March 4, 1880, aged 78. Had five chil- 
dren, viz : Rachel, b. Sept. 22, 1822, m. John Cook, 
of Winchester; Monroe, b. Oct. 6, 1824, d. July 30, 
i860; Elon, b. Aug. 8, 1826, went to California, 
probably not living; Aaron, b. Sept. 2, 1828, d. 
Dec. 3, 1882 ; Asahel, b. Dec. 19, 1830. Lives on 
the home place. 

Wheaton Kelton — Aaron — m. Mary Bishop, of 
Warwick ; lived on the place with his father ; re- 
moved to Winchester. He d. Oct. 12, 1882; she d. 
Feb. 18, 1883. No children. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 425 

Riifus Kclton^ b. in Rehobath, Aug. ii, 1765, m., 
May 26, 1790, Hannah, dr. of James Brown. He 
moved to the Brown farm, 1808. Had six children, 
viz. : Benjamin, b. Dec. 26, 1790; Jane, b. May 13, 
1792, m. Charles Woodcock, d. Dec. 4, 1878 ; Crom- 
well, b. Aug. I, 1795, removed to Pennsylvania, d. 
July 16, 1857; Daniel, b. July 25, 1799, d. Jan. i, 
1879; Cynthia, b. Dec. 16, 1801, m. James Carpen- 
ter, d. July 23, 1863 ; Nancy, b. May 6, 1804, m. 
Lewis Freeman. He d. March 18, 181 1 ; she d. 
Dec. 25, 1863, aged 92. 

Benjamin Kclton m., Aug. 20, 1S16, Rhoda, dr. 
of David Holbrook. He lived on his father's place, 
and run a team to Boston. Had seven children, 
viz.: Rhoda, b. Dec. 20, 1817, d. May 5, 1818 ; 
Rufus, b. Dec. 15, 1821, d. Dec. 25, 1845; Sarah, 
b. May 18, 1820, d. Aug. 23, 1824; David H., b. 
Feb. I, 1824, m. Harriet Harris, lives in Providence ; 
George B., b. Jan. 23, 1826, m. Juliette, dr. of 
Samuel Sprague, d. April 15, 1856; Olive, b. April 
6, 1829, d. April 21, 1831 ; Mary, b. May 17, 1832, 
d. Jan. 24, 1834. He d. Oct. 9, 1836. 

KENNEY. 

Rev. Isaac Kenney^ from Dublin, N. H., moved to 
the Azariah Cumstock farm, 1791 ; removed to 
Royalston, 1801 ; was pastor of the old Baptist 
church ten years. 

KIMPTON. 

Stephen KimftoTi., from Mendon, 1762, the ances- 
tor of all of the name in Richmond, m. Catherine 
Boyce, of Uxbridge : was the f. s. of part of L. 3, R. 



426 HISTORY OF THE 

6 and 7. He sold to John Pickering, of Salem, 1779, 
and bought L. i, R. 9, where his son Samuel and 
his grandson Simeon since have lived. Had twelve 
children, viz. : Philadelphia, b. Feb. 23, 1763, first 
girl born in town; Lois, b. June 5, 1765, m. J. Jes- 
sop ; Chloe, b. May 5, 1767, m. I. Whipple ; Simeon, 
b. March 17, 1769; Mary, b. Feb. 23, 1772, m. L. 
Bishop; Asenath, b. Feb. 23, 1774, m. Coffin; Ste- 
phen, b. April 18, 1776, m. Phebe Burlingame ; 
Catharina, b. Oct. 12, 1778, m. Baker; John, b. 
Sept. 2, 1781 ; Patty, b. July 29, 1784, m. L. Lincoln ; 
Edmond, b. July 20, 1786, m. Nancy Nightingale; 
Samuel, b. Dec. 14, 1788. 

Samuel Ki nipt on — Stephen — m. Dorothy Battles, 
of Fitchburg ; lived on his father's place. He d. 
Dec. 6, 1868, aged 80; she d. Oct. 4, 1865, aged 76. 
Had eleven children, viz. : John P., b. June 18, 
1810, lives in Stoneham ; Emery, b. Jan. 23, 1812 ; 
Elvira, b. Sept. 19, 1814, m. Moses K. Messer ; Or- 
rin, b. April 14, 1816, d. 1874 ^^ Stoneham ; Ste- 
phen, b. Oct. 8, 1818, lives in Malone, N. Y. ; 
Samuel, b. April 14, 1821, lives in Warwick; Asa, 
b. Feb. 22, 1823, is insane; Lydia, b. Aug. 8,*i826, 
d. young; Alvin, b. March, 1827; Emeline E., b. 
April 23, 1829, m. Andrew S. Arnold; Simeon, b. 
Nov. 16, 1832. 

Alvin Kimpton — Samuel — Stephen — m. , Dec. 
21, 1854, Mary Hale, dr. of Israel C. ; lives in Win- 
chester ; has had thirteen children. 

Shneon Kimpton — Samuel — Stephen — m. Han- 
nah K. Page, Jan. 10, 1869 ; lives on his father's 
place. He adopted Abbie M., b. Feb. 22, 1881. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 427 



KINGSLEY. 



yamcs Kingslcy, from Swansey, R. I., 1768, m. 
Lydia Bowen, sister of Ephraim Hix's wife ; was f. 
s. on L. 9, R. 7, known as the Benjamin Man farm ; 
built the two-story house formerly standing on the 
premises. Had five sons, viz. : John, b. April 30, 
1773, d. May 7, 1804; Elisha, James, Lemuel, and 
Peleg ; and four daughters, one of which, Lydia, m. 
Jacob Marsh. He d. Dec. 25, 1803. 

KINSMAN. 

Harvey Kinsman^ from Westminster, Mass., bought 
of John Martin 2d, the Cargill place, about 1845. 
Removed from town some time ago. 

KNAP. 

Paul Kna^ was probably f. s. on L. i, R. 10, the 
place afterwards occupied by Joseph Jaseph, John 
Boyce, and others. 

Ahicl Kuaf m., April 5, 1778, Chloc Smith, of 
Warwick ; was f. s. on the west end of L. i, R. 10 : 
removed to L. 18, R. 3, north-east of the Benson 
place, and there kept a tavern. 

LAWRENCE. 

Amos W. Lawre^icc, b. in Winchester, Feb., 1838, 
m., Dec. 8, 1864, Eveline M. Cook, b. in Winchester, 
Aug. 16, 1840. Owns the Thayer mills, near Win- 
chester line, and lives in a new house near by. 
Had Ada M., b. March 18, 1866; Hattie S., b. April 
29, 1868; Nellie J., b. May 9, 1870; Minnie E., b. 
June 3, 1872; Frank A., b. Nov. 25, 1873; Gracie 
E., b. April 11, 1876. 



428 HISTORY OF THE 

Josj'ah Lawrence yh. 1778, son of Jona. Lawrence, 
of Troy, came to town, 1820; m., 1803, Tabitha Par- 
menter, dr. of Uriah Parinenter, of Swansey. Lived 
on the place previously occupied by George Buftum, 
jr. Had Harriet, b. Feb. 24, 1803, m. Joseph New- 
ell, jr. ; Hannah, b. Feb. 17, 1808, m. Felt, lives in 
Worcester; Keziah N., b. Jan. 29, 1810, d. 1880; 
Harlow, b. Nov. 7, 181 2, lived in Harvard, Mass., 
d. 1882; Angela, b. June 13, 1814 ; Sarah, b. May 
24, 1818. He d. 1849; she d. 1837. The famil}'^ 
removed to Lancaster, Mass., about 1838. 

LYON. 

Charles H. Lyon, from Providence, R. L, came to 
town, 1870. Kept the corner store at the Four cor- 
ners two years. Removed to the Luke Harris place, 
1875 ; m. Nov. 24, 1864, Annette, dr. of Orison Jill- 
son, the son of Clark Jillson. Had Herbert R., b. 
Nov. 15, 1875. He lives on the Luke Harris farm, 
and is on the board of selectmen. 

LESTER. 

Lisle Lester, dr. of Lyman Walker, b. in Rich- 
mond, 1837, was educated at Lawrence Universit}', 
Wis. ; has become celebrated as a lecturer, elocution- 
ist, and journalist ; has travelled extensively in this 
country, and also in Europe ; has been correspondent 
of London, New York, and San Francisco papers. 
She resides in New York, and is still engaged in lit- 
erary pursuits. 

MAN. 

Abraham Man, son of Daniel Man, of Smithfield, 
f. s. on L. 13, R. 9, known as the Nathan Bullock 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 429 

farm, now owned by Watrous Garnsey, m., Jan. 22, 
1767, Mary, dr. of Dea. John Cass. Had eleven 
children, viz. : Susanna, b. Dec. 18, 1768, m. Peleg 
Taft; Eunice, b. Feb. 28, 1770; Freelove, b. March 
17, 1772 ; Mary, b. July 18, 1774 ; Abraham, b. Feb. 
9, 1777 '■> Tsaac, b. March 27, 1779; Hannah, b. June 
8, 1781, d. Dec. 30, 1838; Jacob, b. July 23, 1783; 
Mary, b. April 4, 1788, d. Dec. 26, 1790. He d. 
1803. 

Isaac Man — Abraham — m., Feb. 14, 1802, Deb- 
orah, dr. of John Bennett. Removed to New Haven, 
Vt. 

Gideon J/^w, brother of Abraham, b. Sept. i, 1735, 

came from Smithfield, 1768, m. Rachel . He 

was f. s. on L. 8, R. 6, the place now owned in part 
by Obediah S. Swan. He d. 1800; his wife d. 1810. 
Had by Rachel, his wife, Daniel, Gideon, Benjamin, 
Rhoda, m. Simeon Cook ; Hannah, m. Edward God- 
dard ; Mary, m. Ebenezer Ingalls ; Betsey, m. Obe- 
diah Sprague ; and Penelope. 

Benjamin Man — Gideon — m., April 14, 1796? 
Susanna, dr. of Silas Ballon, lie lived on the James 
Kingsley farm, L. 9 and 10, R. 7, and now owned 
by Nathaniel Naromore. He d. 1837 5 she d. Feb. 
25, 1814. Had Chandler, b. Dec. 31, 1796: Dellia 
and Delila, twins, b. March 11, 1799, Delila d. Sept. 
28, 1820, Dellia ist m. Amasa Ballon, 2d m. Ellis 
Thayer; Diana, b. Jan. 25, 1801 ; Joseph, b. 1804; 
Daniel, b. 1806. 

Gideon Man — Gideon — m., 1777, Elizabeth, dr. 
of Caleb Cook, and sister of Simeon. He lived on 



430 HISTORY OF THR 

the place recently owned by Henry Rice, the build- 
ings at the time standing on the old road to Gaskill 
hill. Had Nelly, m. James W. Peck; Provided, m. 
John Emerson: Arnold, Lydia, m. Trask ; Jemima, 
m. Derrick Hews; Gideon, b. Jan. 9, 1804, removed 
to Calais, Vt. ; Newton, Zurial, Vienna, m. Thomas 
Cutler, and Betsey. Hed. 1817. No record of fam- 
ily. 

Daniel Man^ son of Gideon, ist m., Aug. 3, 1778, 
Esther, the eldest dr. of JedediahBuffum, she d. about 
1785 ; 2d m., March 25, 1787, Anna, dr. of Capt. 
Stephen Jillson. He was f. s. on L. 12, R. 7, now 
a part of the David Buffum farm. He d. June i, 
1804, aged 45. Had by Esther: Esther, b. 1779, m. 
Major Ebenezer Swan. Had by Anna : Rachel, b. 
May 20, 1787, m. Noah Bisbee, jr. ; Candace, b. July 

22, 1789; Rufus, b. June 17, 1791 ; Betsey, b. Dec. 

23, 1792, m. David Buffum ; David, b. May 11, 1794 ; 
Stephen, b. Nov. 27, 1795 ; Hannah, b. May 22, 
1797, m. Joseph Williams; Moses, b. June 23, 1799. 



Newton Man — Gideon — Gideon — m. , Feb. i , 
1829, Diancy, dr. of Jacob Sweet. Lived on his 
father's place until he sold to Henry Rice, 1830. 
Had Alfred N., b. Jan. 19, 1830; Verona D. and 
Sewell W. He and his wife d. about 1840. 

Zuriel Man — Gideon — Gideon — was never mar- 
ried. When a young man he went to Lower Canada 
with Derrick Hews. He returned with Hews and 
worked at various places, perhaps the most with 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 43 1 

David and Lysander Powers. He d. at Sylvester 
Aldrich's about 1850. 

In wrestling match and sportive plays 
He was rarely beat in younger days ; 
And when his real life began, 
He was ever called Zuriel Man. 
The last of him I ever knew, 
He was spoken of as Drunken Zu. 
Thus one was added to the sum 
Of ruined ones by use of rum. 

Joseph Man — Benjamin — Gideon — m. , Oct. 4, 
1835, Silence, dr. of Benjamin Newell, Esq. Lived 
at various places in town. Is now with his son Jason 
in Montague. Had Jason, b. July 17, 1838 ; Joseph- 
ine, b. Dec. 16, 1852, lives in Jamestown, N. Y. Si- 
lence d. May 12, 1874, ^iged 64. 

Daniel Man — Benjamin — Gideon — ist m., Dec. 
23, 1830, L^'dia, dr. of Jonathan Cass 2d ; 2d m. Dia- 
dama, dr. of Robert Martin. Lived on the place now 
occupied by Mrs. Susan B. Cass. He d. Feb. 20, 
1855, aged 49 : Lydia d. April 27, 1838 ; Diadama d. 
Jan. 27, 1869. Had by Diadama three children, viz. : 
Lydia, b. April 19, 1840, ist m. Artemas B. Colburn, 
2d m. C. C. Holton; Mary, b. March 18, 1842, m. 
Nims ; Daniel Monsier, b. Sept. 6, 1845. 

D. Monsier Man — Daniel — Benjamin — Gideon 
— m. Ella M. Adams, of Charlestown, Mass., 1868. 
Is now on the police force of South Boston. Had 
Flora, b. May 18, 1870; Horace, b. July 16^ 1872. 

Asa Man came from Smithtield about 1770; m. 
Elizabeth, sister of Jedediah BufTum. Was f. s. on 



432 HISTORY OF THE 

the west end of L. 12, R. 7, the place now occupied 
by Ebenezer Cook. Had by Elizabeth one son, Asa, 
and five daughters, one of whom, Anna, m. Clark 
Hill, of Franconia, N. H. He d. 1786. 

Hezekiah Man, from Swansey, bought, 1780, of 
Constant Barney L. 10, R. 6, the place where Wil- 
liam and Esek Buftum since lived. He sold the same 
to Jedediah Buftum, 1784, except the land for the 
meeting-house. He returned to Swansey. Had 
three children, viz. : Samuel, Sarah, and Molly. 

MARTIN. 

yohn Martin, b. Aug. 15, 1710, from Smithfield 

or Uxbridge, m. Margery . Was f. s. on L. 15, 

R. 6, known as the George Martin place. The house 
now standing on the premises is mentioned in the 
early records as John Martin's new house, built about 
1765. Had a family of sons and daughters nearly 
grown up when he came, of which there appears to 
be no record extant. Had five sons, viz. : John, 
Peter, Moses, George, and Jonathan, the latter was b. 
1750, unmarried, d. young, and two daughters, viz. : 
Rachel, b. 1748, m. Joseph Cass, and Zilpah, b. 
1753, m. Jonathan Cass. He d. Aug. 8, 1785. 

yohn Martin, jr. — John — m. Sarah Winter. 
Was f. s. on L. 17, R. 6, the place now owned by 
Ansel Martin, and built the house now standing on 
the premises, 1779. He d. Dec. 26, 1782. She 2d 
m. Peter Cook, and d. 1833. Had seven children, 
viz. : Wilderness, b. Feb. 21, 1765 ; Hendrick, b. 
July I, 1770; Ruth, b. Sept. 24, 1768, m. Jeremiah 
Cook; Prudence, b. Jan. 23, 1773, m. Perry; Ezra, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 433 

b. Aug. 20, 1776; David, b. Jan. 23, 1779; Sarah, 
b. Feb. 5, 1782. 

Peter Martin — John — m., Aug. 14, 1770, Han- 
nah Winter. Was f. s. on L. 16, R. 6, the place re- 
cently occupied by Daniel Perry and Ezra Martin, jr. 
Had eight children, viz. : Naomi, Timothy, b. May 
31, 1774; Salmon, b. July 26, 1776 ; Benager, Lucy, 
Hannah, d. Feb. 15, i860, aged 77 ; Lydia, and Lo- 
vina. He d. 1810. 

George Martin — John — m., Feb. 15, 1778, Mary 
Robinson. Lived on his father's place. Had five 
children, viz.: John, b. Aug. 2, 1778; Robert, b. 
Feb. 16, 1780; Reuben, b. Sept. 7, 1783; George, 
b. Sept. 21, 1786; Mary, b. Dec. 28, 1788, m. Luke 
Aldrich. He d. 1822. 

Moses Martin — John — m., June 11, 1772, Ruth, 
dr. of Jacob Aldrich, of Uxbridge. Was f. s. on L. 
16, R. 5, known as the Levin Aldrich place, now 
owned by Edson Starkey, jr. Had eight children, 
viz. : Jonathan, b. Dec. 6, 1773 ; Jacob, b. Feb. 28, 
1775 ; Rachel, b. Dec. 2, 1777 ; Tamasin, b. Sept. 2, 
1779, m. John Perry ; Moses, b. Oct. 11, 1783 ; Aaron, 
b. Oct. 15, 1786; Ruth, b. July 29, 1791 ; Margery, 
b. Oct. 2, 1794, m. Eli Page, jr. He d. 1810. 

Wilderness Martin — John — John — m. , June 20, 
1790, Dinah, dr. of Paul Handy ; was. f. s. on L. 7, 
R. I, the place now owned by Danvers. He d. 
Oct. 2, 1831, aged 66; she d. Sept. 12, 1849, aged 
81. Had John, b. March 16, 1791 ; Sarah, b. Jan. 
7, 1793, m. Amos Abbott; Amy, b. Nov. 23, 1794, 
m. Hosea Boorn ; Esther, b. Dec. 22, 1796, m. Asa 



434 HISTORY OF THE 

Whitcomb ; Hannah, b. Sept. 21, 1798, m. James 
Boyce ; Delila, b. July 24, 1800, d. Aug. 16, 1800; 
Stephen, b. July 16, 1802, moved to Barton, Vt., 
1829; Daniel, b. June 2, 1804; Jacob, b. June 24, 
1806, d. from a kick of a horse, May 30, 1840; 
Paul, b. June 23, 1808; Danvers, b. Dec. i, 1810. 

Hcndrick Martin — John — John — m. Oct. 30, 
1796, Prudence, dr. of Paul Handy; lived where 
Lewis H. Cass now resides, west end L. 20, R. 5 ; 
removed to Barton, Vt., 1829. Had eight children, 
viz. ; Mercey , Job, Tildy , Julia, Parna, Atrista, Amy, 
and Orrin. 

Ezra Martin — John — John — m., March 30, 
1806, Mary, dr. of Lot Aldrich ; lived on his father's 
place. He d. June 30, 1847, aged 71 ; she d. Sept. 
8, 1871, aged 85. Had Alvin, b. June 9, 1806; 
Sylvia, b. Dec. 16, 1807; Ezra, b. March 2, 1810; 
Chester, b. March 10, 1812; Presson, b. Jan. 20, 
1814; Alanson, b. Dec, 1816, d. Dec. 20, 1863; 
Rowena, b. 1818, m. Simon Smith; Ansel, b. April 
21, 1820; Celestra, b. Dec, 1822, m. Willard Mar- 
tin ; Amanda, b. 1824, m. Charles Gleason ; Loren, 
b. March 6, 1827. 

David Martin — John — John — ist m., Nov. 27, 
1800, Olive, dr. of Lot Aldrich ; 2d m. Elizabeth, dr. 
of Jacob Bump; lived on L. 17, R. 5, the place now 
owned by Mrs. Esther Martin. He d. Feb., 1842; 
Olive d. May 6, 1834; Elizabeth d. Jan. 24, 1859, 
aged 86. Had by Olive: Otis, b. March i, 1802; 
Sally, d. young; Mahala, b. Feb. 3, 1807, m. Benj. 
Aldrich; Alanson, b. 1809, d. March, 1815 ; Olive, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 435 

b. Oct. 13, 1811, m. D. B. Aldrich ; Betsey, b. Jan. 
II, 1814, m. Lorenzo Harris; Margery, b. April 5, 
1817, m. Robert Martin; David, b. Nov. 8, 1819. 

Timothy Martin — Peter — John — m . , Sept. 7 , 
1806, Susanna, dr. of John Scott; was f. s. on east 
end L. 17, R. 5, the place where Otis Martin and 
Ansel Harris have since lived. Had Luke, lived in 
Gill, Mass ; Tyler, Peter, Susanna, and Angelina. 
He d. 1815. 

Salmon Martin — Peter — John — m. Polly Glea- 
son, of Dana. He lived on his father's place. Had 
Lavina, b. July 7, 1807 ; Celinda, b. Oct. 20, 1809; 
and Jonas, d. young. He d. 1832. 

Jonathan Martin — Moses — John — ist m., Jan. 
31, 1796, Zilpah, dr. of Joseph Cass; 2d m., Aug. 
14, 1803, Lydia, dr. of Israel Saben ; removed to 
Swansey, 1820, Had by Zilpah : Lovicia and Rox- 
elana. Had by Lydia : Lydia, b. 1805 ; Jonathan, b. 
May, 1807; Laton, b. Jan. 31, 1809; James M., b. 
1812 ; Zilpah, b. 1814. He d. 1832. 

Jacob Martin — Moses — John — m., March 4, 
1796, Joanna Aldrich. Had Esther, m. Kendall 
Fisher; Aphemia, Moses, Aaron, Lydia, Jacob, and 
Asahel. He was killed about 1813 by being thrown 
from a horse. 

Aaron Martin — Moses — John — m. Dinah . 

He was in the war of 181 2 as a substitute for Martin 
Cass. He d. about 1820. His widow m. Zoph 
Whitcomb, and removed to Marshfield, Vt. Had 
Silence, b. Aug. 14, 1805. 



436 HISTORY OF THE 

John Martin — George — John — ist m., Jan. 7, 
1808, Azubah Franklin, of Winchester; lived on the 
east part of L. 15, R. 6, the place recently owned by 
Nathan F. Newell; 2d m., Nov. 22, 1812, Amy, dr. 
of Oliver Perry. He d. June 8, 1845 ; Amy d. June 
27, 1862, aged 74. Had by Azubah : Harvey, b. 
Sept. 10, 1808. Had by Amy : Amy, b. Oct. 16, 
1814, d. in infancy; Asa, b. Feb. 4, 1818, d. 1829: 
Azubah, b. June 16, 1820, m. Hiram Bryant, d. 
1862 ; Alphreda, b. Oct. 13, 1822, m. Luther Beals ; 
Amos, b. April 7, 1825 ; Angela, b. Aug. 17, 1828, 
m. George W. Stratton, d. 1862 ; Asahel, b. May 
II, 1831, d. June 4, 1832. 

Robert Martin — George — John — m., Dec. 27, 
1801, Mary, dr. of Israel Saben ; was the owner of 
Martin's mills, and lived on the place now owned by 
N. B. Fisher. He d. Oct. 5, 1821 ; she d. Oct. 13, 
1841. Had Leason, b. Nov. 5, 1802; Israel, b. 
Sept. I, 1804 ; George, b. Aug. 3, 1806, m. Maria, 
dr. of Jonah Walker, removed to Orange, and d. 
March 21, 1871 ; Alvira, b. May 14, 1808, m. James 
Swan; Mary, b. May 27, 1810, m. Ebenezer Swan; 
Diedama, b. Sept. 21, 1812, m. Daniel Man ; Robert, 
b. Sept. 8, 1814 ; Phebe, b. Aug. 27, 1817, m. Lewis 
Wilkins, April 4, 1841 ; Lucy, b. Aug. 15, 1820, 
m. Lucius Aldrich. 

Reubeti Martin — George — John — m. , March 18, 
1810, Candace, dr. of Oliver Barrus. Lived on L. 
3, R. 8, the Daniel Carpenter place. Had Converse, 
b. Aug. 13, 1811 ; Polly, b. June 19, 1816, d. 1883 ; 
Lucy, b. Oct. 21, 1818, m. Calvin Pratt; Hannah, b. 
June 18, 1820, m. Philip Conville, she d. 1876; 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 437 

George R., b. Sept. 23, 1S22, m. Sarah Woodward, 
of Troy, N. H. He d. June 19, 1849; she d. Sept. 
2, 1855. 

George Martin, jr. — George — John — m., Aug. 
24, 1816, Prudence Smith. Lived on the old farm 
where John Martin, his grandfather, settled. He d. 
Feb. 28, 1832 ; she d. May i, 1862. Had Frederick 
Sumner, b. Jan. i, 1817 ; Willard, b. Dec. 23, 1819; 
Arethusa, b. March 2, 182 1, m. Nahum Perry ; Geo. 
Thomas, b. May 17, 1824; Roxana, b. March 6, 
1827, m. Ebenezer Swan 3d; Mary L., b. 1829, d. 
July 9, 1831. 

"John Martin — Wilderness — John — John — ist 
m. Hannah Kendall ; 2d m. Abigail Kendall, of Fitz- 
william. Lived on the Cargill place, and removed to 
Penn. Had by Hannah: Emily, b. Nov., 1819, m. 
Ezra Allen. By Abigail had Hannah, b. Nov., 1825 ; 
Charles, b. Oct., 1827. 

Daniel Martin — Wilderness — John — John — m., 
Sept. 5, 1827, Maria, dr. of Henry Rice. Removed 
to Barton ; returned to Richmond about 1840. Had 
nine children, viz.: Henry R., b. April 2, 1832; 
Mary J., b. July 21, 1833 : Daniel, b. Dec. 27, 1834, 
d. Dec. 30, 1856; George G., b. March 25, 1837. 
These, and three others d. young, were born in Bar- 
ton. Abbie, b. Aug. 9, 1840, and Sarah O., b. June 
17, 1842, in Richmond. He d. Nov. 8, 1877, and 
his wife d. a few years before. 

Paul Martin — Wilderness — John — John — m . , 
Jan. 29, 1829, Lillis, dr. of Nicholas Aldrich. Re- 
moved to Barton : returned, and lived at various 



438 • HISTORY OF THE 

places. Was a soldier in the late war. Died of a 
wound received in Fitzwilliam in felling a tree, 1865. 
Had Calvin, b. July 15, 1829; Philinda, b. March 
27, 1832, m. Thomas Moore ; Philander, b. Dec. 22, 
1835, d. ; Merilla, b. May 4, 1845, m. Abel Grant; 
Lucy, b. Sept. 20, 1851, m. James A. Mellen, jr. 

Danvcrs Martin — Wilderness — John — John — 
m. Olive, dr. of Silas Whipple ; lives on his father's 
place. Had thirteen children, viz. : Harriet, b. July 
22, 1833, m. O. H. Gale; Warren, b. Sept. 20, 
1834, "^* Amanda Chase, Sept. i, 1858, d. Jan. 27, 
i860; Stephen W., b. April 13, 1836, was a soldier 
in the late war, d. at Newbern, N. C, May 16, 
1862; Danford, b. Nov. 15, 1837, d. 1841 ; Tamma 
W., b. Sept. 14, 1839, ^' Sept. 12, 1862; Emily, b. 
May 31, 1841 ; Laura, b. Aug. 8, 1842, m. A. C. 
Richardson; Ellen O., b. Dec. 11, 1843, m. Sewell 
A. Day; Abbie P., b. April 18, 1845, m. Charles 
Welch; Danvers, b. Sept. 28, 1846; Danford W., b. 
Aug. II, 1848; Silas O., b. Nov. 2, 1849; Eunice 
N., b. Nov. 29, 1850, m. H. E. Mellen. 

Alvin Martin — Ezra — John — John — m. , Sept. 
6, 1829, Atrista, dr. of Hendrick Martin ; removed to 
Barton, Vt., where she died. He now lives with 
Ansel, in Richmond. 

Ezra Martin — Ezra — John — John — ist m. 
Irena Daniels; 2d m. Celinda Martin, dr. of Salmon, 
April, 1842; removed to Rochester, N. Y., and 
thence to Michigan ; returned and lived on the 
Salmon Martin place. He d. June 17, 1873. Had 
by Irena: Mary Jane, b. Sept. 2, 1836; Irena, b. 
Aug. 17, 1843. Celinda d. March 3, 1883. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 439 

Ansel Maj'tin — Ezra — John — John — m. Laura 
Emerson, of Swansey, and widow of George Ken- 
dall, Dec. 29, 1856; lives on his father's place, in 
the house built by his grandfather, John Martin, jr. 
Has no children. 

Lor en Martin — Ezra — John — John — m. , Jan. 
I, 1857, Mary L., dr. of Harvey Martin ; is a truck- 
man in Worcester. Had Orlan H.,b. Jan. 30, 1858. 

Otis Martin — David — John — John — m., Jan. 
14, 1827, Esther, dr. of Ebenezer Swan, jr. ; lived on 
the Timothy Martin place ; removed to his father's 
farm. He d. Feb. i, 1856. Had Russell, b. June 
9, 1829 ; Andrew, b. April 17, 1839, ^' Oct. 3, 1883 ; 
Otis, b. Aug. 2, 1841. 

David Martin — David — John — John — ist m. 
Rhoda, dr. of Daniel Twitchell. She d. Aug. 17, 
1853, aged 32 ; lived on the Henry Starkey farm ; re- 
moved to Missouri, 1858 ; 2d m. widow Bemis ; 3d 
m. widow Alcista Cass. Had by Rhoda five chil- 
dren. 

Harvey Martin — John — George — John — m., 
May 5, 1833, Susan, dr. of Chandler Bryant; lives 
at North Richmond ; is a carpenter, wheelwright, 
and blacksmith ; was post-master. Had Thomas B., 
b. Nov. 26, 1834, ^' yo^'^g 5 Mary L., b. Dec. i, 
1836, m. Loren Martin, d. March 29, 1862 ; Albert 
H., b. June 20, 1844. 

Amos Martin — John — George — John — m. , Nov. 
29, 1849, Mary Ann, dr. of Benjamin W. Bliss, of 
Royalston ; removed to Royalston, 1848; returned to 



440 HISTORY OF THE 

Richmond, 1854 ' lives on the old Moses Allen farm, 
in the house built in 1777. 

Lcason Martin — Robert — George — John — m., 
April 14, 1825, Lydia, dr. of Luke Harris; lived 
where his son now resides ; owned the mills, together 
with his brother Israel. He d. Oct. 4, 1867, aged 64 
years; she d. Sept. 29, 1865, aged 62. Had Fanny 
H., b. Sept. 9, 1825, m. Hiram Walker, d. Aug. 
I, 1852; Emily, b. Feb. 28, 1828, m. Hosea B. Al- 
drich ; Alzina, b. April 29, 1831, d. Aug. 22, 1852 ; 
Miranda, b. July 25, 1834, ^' ^^b* 5' ^856; Lydia 
E., b. June 8, 1838, m. Joseph B. Abbott ; Leason, b. 
Dec. 13, 1840. 

Israel Martin — Robert — George — John — m. , 
April 30, 1834, Martha, dr. of Henry Rice ; lived 
where N. B, Fisher now resides. He d. April 2, 
1858 ; she d. Dec. 24, 1872. Had Robert, b. Nov. 
12, 1835, d. May 29, 1875 ; Alonzo, b. July 23, 1837, 
d. July 25, 1838; Mary, b. Oct. 28, 1838; Ellen A., 
t>- ]'^^^y 31^ 1841 ; Lucretia M., b. Oct. 6, 1843; 
Roxana P., b. Jan. 29, 1846; Zilpah, b. Sept. 2, 
1849, d. March 13, 1850. 

Robert ]\Iartin — Robert — George — John — m. 
Margery, dr. of David Martin, Nov. 21, 1839; lived 
where his uncle John resided. He d. suddenly June 
23, 1868 ; she d. Nov. 28, 1869. Had Edgar M., b. 
May 10, 1846; Murrey E., b. March 4, 1850. 

Georgr Alartin — Reuben — George — John — m. 
Sarah Woodward, of Troy, Jan. 7, 1861. He, with 
Converse, lived on their father's place until 1857, 
when they removed to the Henry Goddard farm, in 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 44I 

Royalston. Had five children, four of which d. in 
infancy; Mary Jane, b. Sept., 1863, m. Russell 
Ward. George d. Jan. 5, 1884. 

Frederick Sumner Martin — George — George — 
John — m. Abigail Kendrick, of Winchester ; lives 
in Providence, R. I. ; is by trade a moulder. 

Willard Martin — George — George — John — m. 
Celestia, dr. of Ezra Martin. Had Celestia S., b. 
Jan. 29, 1846, m. George Chamberlin, and lives in 
Keene. Celestia, his wife, d. Feb., 1846. He lives 
in Swansey. 

Henry R. Martin — Daniel — Wilderness — John 
— John — m. Delila E., dr. of Ansel Harris, Aug. 24, 
1864 ; lives on the Stephen Buftum place. Had 
Leslie H., b. June 18, 1865 ; G. LeRoy, b. Oct. 5, 
1872 ; Henry L., b. Dec. 28, 1874; ^- Lulu, b. Oct. 
25, 1878. 

Calvin Martin — Paul — Wilderness — John — 
John — m., Jan. 28, 1861, Lucy A. Wilson, of 
Ro3alston ; lives on the Stephen Boorn place. Had 
Florence A., b. Jan. 12, 1862; Walter J., b. Sept. 
29, 1863; Edgar U., b. Jan. i, 1867; Eva E., b. 
July 28, 1870; Ida L., b. Aug. 12, 1872; Josie L., 
b. April 12, 1874; Lizzie G., b. April 12, 1877. 

Danvcrs Martin — Danvers — Wilderness — John 
— John — m., Dec. 2, 1873, Myra O., dr. of James 
A. Mellen. Lives with his father. Had Warren E., 
b. July 3, 1874; Nellie M., b. Dec. 28, 1875. 

Slcfhcn W. Martin — Danvers — Wilderness — 
John — John — m., June 6, i860, Jennie E.. dr. of 



442 HISTORY OF THE 

Ozial Ballou. Enlisted in Co. I, 25th Reg. Mass. 
Vol., in the late war; d. at Newbern, N. C, May 16, 
1863. Had Addie E., b. March 27, 1861. 

Danford W. Martin — Danvers — Wilderness — 
John — John — m., Aug. 18, 1875, Emma J., dr. of 
John Starkey, jr. Lives at North Richmond, on the 
Lovett place. Manufactures staves at the Capron 
mill. Had EdnaM., b. Aug. 21, 1876; Olive L., b. 
Nov. II, 1877, d. July II, 1880; Clifford W., b. 
Aug. 5, 1878; Clarence G., b. May 4, 1881 ; Edith 
G., b. Dec. 23, 1882. 

Silas O. Martin — Danvers — Wilderness — John 
— John — m.. July 6., 1875, Hattie E., dr. of A. San- 
ford Borden. Lives at North Richmond, on the John 
M. Sawyer place. Manufactures staves, etc. Had 
Percy A., b. Feb. 12, 1876 ; Stella R., b. April 13, 1S78. 

Russell Martin — Otis — David — John — John — 
m. Melissa Richardson, of Deering, N. H. Lives 
at North Richmond. Had Abbie Jane, d. ; Esther 
Ann, d. ; Madison M., d. ; Cora, b. Jan. 6, 1871. 

Otis Martin, son of Otis, m. Lucretia, dr. of 
Israel Martin, Feb. 24, 1869 ; lives on the David 
Martin place. 

Leason Martin, jr. — Leason — Robert — George 
— John— m., Feb. 13, 1878, Cora F., dr. ofB. F. 
Lombard, of Swansey. Lives on his father's place. 
Had Leason A., b. Jan. 28, 1880; Ruth L., b. March 
20, 1883. 

Albert H. Martin — Harvey — John — George — 
John — m., Aug. 7, 1878, Lena C. Vose. Lives 
with his father. He is engaged in the provision bus- 
iness. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 443 

Edgar M. Martin — Robert — Robert — George 
— John — m. Edna Smith, of Nevvfane, Vt. Lives 
in Reading, Mass. Had Ethel, b. 1873. 

Murrey E. Martin — Robert — Robert — George 
— John — m. Emma Irish. Lives at Bellows Falls. 
Had Leon E., b. June 28, 1879. ^^"^^ ^' ^^^- 2> ^883. 



Other Martin Families. 

Elcazer Martin m. Mehetabel, dr. of Ebenezer 
Peters, Nov. 21, 177 1. Was f. s. on L. 17, R. 2, 
north-east of the Benson place. He was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war, and died in the service, of a 
wound received at the battle of Saratoga, Sept. 19, 
1777. He probably came from R. L, but it is not 
known that he was related to the other Martin fam- 
ilies. 

ycsse Martin^ from Warwick, m. Mary Wolper, 
March 30, 1798. He lived on Whipple hill, at the 
John Barrus place. His wife was mother of the Rev. 
Robert Bartlett, a Universalist minister, who preached 
in town a few years ago. His lineage we have been 
unable to trace. Children : Hannah, m. Tolman ; 
Atlanta, m. David B. Aldrich ; had a son also. 



MASON. 

Oliver Mason was f. s. on L. 10, R. 6, the William 
Buftum place, 1763 ; sold to Constant Barney, 1772 ; 
removed to L. 23, R. 4, and was f. s. on that lot 
also ; this he sold to Stephen Harris, and removed 
from town, 1787. Had four children. 



444 HISTORY OF THE 

MEADER. 

Elijah Meader was f. s. on L. lo, R. 8, the place 
north of the Enos Holbrook farm. The house was 
removed by Derrick Hews about 1830, and is the 
same now owned by Mrs. Robert Aldrich. 

MELLEN. 

'James A. Mcllen, b. Nov. 14, 1818, m. Sybil, dr. 
of Henry Ballou, June, 1839 ; lived where his widow 
still resides. Had Arvilla J., b. Feb. 15, 1844; 
James H., b. June 28, 1846 ; John, b. April 9, 1848 ; 
Hiram E., b. Dec. 11, 1851 ; Almira L., b. Oct. 10, 
1854. H^ d- Nov. 12, 1870. 

Hiram E. Mcllen — James A. — m. Eunice N., 
dr. of Danvers Martin, Nov. 21, 1875. ^^ lives on 
his father's place. Had Clarence B., b. Aug. 6, 
1878; Roy, b. April 26, 1882. 

Isaac N. Mellcn^ from Hopkinton, Mass., 1877, b. 
Nov. 26, 1826, m. Sarah Phipps, b. Oct. 19, 1824, 
d. Oct. II, 1848; lives on the Jerrill Curtis place. 
Had Edward P., b. Sept., 1849; Frederick M., b. 
Dec. 10, 1851 ; Charles H., b. March 16, 1854, d. 
April 21, 1861 ; Herbert L., b. Nov. i, 1855 ; Anna 
A.,b. Nov. 21, 1857; Lilla G., b. May 26, 1863. 
Isaac N. d. Dec, 1883. 

MERRIFIELD. 

Cyrus Merrifield, from Barre, Mass., m., April 12, 
1835, Jemima Morse ; lived on the Oliver Perry farm, 
known as the Dr. Ware place. She d. 1867. 

Horace Mei-rifeld — Cyrus — m. Maria Morse; 
lives where his father lived. Had Mary and 
Leonard. 



7 OWN OF RICHMOND. 445 

MILLER. 

Ebcnczer Miller was f. s. on L, 7, R. i, 1784, the 
place now owned by Danvers Martin. 

H. W. W. Miller, a temperance and anti-slavery 
lecturer, from Vermont, came to town 1848. Through 
his influence the old Wakefield tavern was purchased 
by a company formed for the purpose of transforming 
it into a temperance house, which was kept by Miller 
as such about two years. 

He shone like meteoric light 

Flashing through the skj ; 
Nought was left the gazer's sight 

On which he might rely. 



MOWRY. 

Levi Mozvry m., Feb. 8, 1778, Rachel, dr. of 
Silas Taft ; lived on L. 11, R. 12, known as the 
Nathan Bolles place, now owned by Frank E. Naro- 
more. He d. 181 2. 

MULLEN. 

Albert M. Mullen, from Peru, Vt., m. Irena, dr. 
of Ezra Martin, jr., Nov. 28, 1868; lives on the 
Salmon Martin farm. Had Mary J., b. June 17, 
1869; Charles A., b. July 9, 187 1 ; Willie E., b. 
March 25, 1873 ; Josie E., b. Aug. 26, 1875, d. Aug. 
28, 1878 ; Roy ; Lionel, b. July 17, 1881 ; Minnie I., 
b. March 20, 1883. 

MUNROE. 

'Josef h Munroc was f. s. on L. 12, R. 10, known 
as the Peleg Taft place. He d. Dec. 14, 1770. 



44^ HISTORY OF THE 

NAROMORE. 

Nathaniel Naroniorc, son of Abiel Naromore, from 
Winchester, b. Dec. i6, 1788, m., April 29, 1810, 
Anna, dr. of George Buftum. Lived where Andrew 
Dodge now resides. Was a carpenter; d. Feb. 6, 
1869, aged 80; she d. April 5, 1863, aged 72. Had 
eight children, viz. : Harriet, b. Nov. 18, 1810, m. 
Elisha M. Holbrook ; Diancy, b. July 24, 1812, m. 
Silas Whipple 2d; Roselma, b. Jan. 9, 1814, m. 
Abel Marshall, of Lunenburg; Charlotte, b. Aug. 
20, 1815, m. Charles M. Roper, d. July 17, 1837 ; 
George A., b. Dec. 12, 1817, d. 1818 ; Nathaniel, b. 
May 16, 1819; George B.,b. April 26, 1822; Sarah, 
b. Feb. 16, 1824, m. Sumner Downs, of Boston. 

Nathaniel Naromore^ jr. — Nathaniel — m. Abbie 
M. Taylor. Owns the James Kingsley place, also 
the Jedediah Buftum farm, and has recently bought 
the Woodbury mills. Had ten children, viz. : Char- 
lotte M., b. March 5, 1841, ist m. Charles Johnson, 
2d m. Thomas B. Clark; Mary H., b. June 4, 1843, 
ist m. Enoch Aldrich, 2d m. Andrew Jackson ; Sum- 
ner P., b. Nov. 3, 1845, lives in New Haven, Ct. ; 
Albert H., b. July 20, 1847; Clarence H., b. April 
30, 1849; Frank E., b. March 10, 1852; Frederick 
J., b. July II, 1854; Etta F., b. Aug. 11, 1857, m. 
Charles S. Hale; Lillian F., b. April 12, 1859, ™- 
John Briggs; Willie E., b. May 24, 1861. 

George B. Naromore — Nathaniel — ist m. Abbie 
Marshall, of Lunenburg ; 2d m. widow Mary Ware, 
of Fitchburg. He lived on the Dr. Parkhurst place 
a number of years, then removed to Lunenburg, and 
now resides in Fitchburg. Had Elizabeth S., Fanny 
E., George E., and three that died in infancy. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 447 

Frank E. Naromore — Nathaniel — Nathaniel — 
m., March i6, 1879, I^ena L., dr. of Nathaniel Bry- 
ant. Lives on the Nathan Bolles place. 

Frederick y. Naromore — Nathaniel — Nathaniel 
— m., Jan. 15, 1871, Addie, dr. of Wheaton C. Jillson. 
Lives at the mills. Had Frank B., b. May 3, 1872 ; 
Fred. N., b. Feb. 22, 1875 5 Victor E., b. Aug. 22, 
1877 ; Blanche M., b. Aug. 25, 1879 '■> Minnie L., b. 
June 7, 1882. 

Willie E. JSFaroniore — Nathaniel — Nathaniel — 
m. Mary A. Ballon. Lives at the mills. 

NASON. 

Alvin IVason came from Marlboro', 1828 ; m. Phebe 
Whitcomb, of Swansey. Lived on a place north- 
east of the Noah Aldrich farm, which was first settled 
by Ichabod Grossman. No record of family. He d. 
in Concord, N. H., state-prison. 

NELSON. 

Ezekiel Nelson, from Hebron, N. Y., m., April 
16, 1816, Ruth, dr. of John Harkness. He settled 
on part of L.. 13, R. 2, north of the Benjamin Buftum 
place, where he built a log house and lived several 
years ; thence he removed to the Jona. Sweet farm, 
1832, and finally went to Warwick, 1835, where he d. 
May 29, 1854, aged 78; she d. Sept., 1859, aged 64. 
Had Horatio A., b. Oct. 22, 1816 ; Eliza, b. July 31, 
1818, d. 1853 ; E. Melissa, b. June 3, 1820 ; John M., 
b. June 9, 1822, d. 1826; Mary, b. Nov. 7, 1824, d. 
1832; Lafayette, b. Jan. 2, 1827, d. in the late war, 
1863; Ezekiel v., b. Oct. 25, 1829; George W., b. 
Feb. 22, 1832. 



448 HISTORY OF THE 

Horatio A. Nelson — Ezekiel — m., June, 1841, 
Maria D. Davison, of Burlington, Vt. He first en- 
gaged in peddling wooden ware ; about 1840 he re- 
moved to Montreal, C. E., where, in company with 
a Mr. Butters, he commenced manufacturing and sel- 
ling wooden ware. This business he continued to 
enlarge, until finally he had two large stores filled 
with American and European fancy goods. One of 
these was at Montreal, and the other at Toronto, and 
each was in charge of two of his sons. He was for 
fourteen years alderman in the City Council of Mon- 
treal. In 1878 he was elected a member of the Cana- 
dian Parliament ; he held various other offices of 
honor and trust. The following, from the Canadian 
Biographical Dictionary, shows the high regard en- 
tertained for his memory : — 

A man of the old Puritan type of character, which in his case has 
never been impeached or suspected of blemish. No community can 
have too many citizens of his class. 

He d. Dec. 24, 1882; she d. June 25, 1882. Had 
ten children, of whom seven are now living. 

Ezekiel V. Nelson^ — Ezekiel — m. A. Melissa, dr. 
of Enoch Sprague, Lives in Royalston, and is one 
of the more enterprising and successful farmers in 
the town. 

NEWELL. 

yosefh Ne-velU b. in Cumberland, 1744, m., 1770, 
Catherine Aldrich, b. 1756. Was f. s. on L. 16, R. 
7, known as the Ben. Newell place. Removed to the 
Artemas Aldrich farm, about 1792, where his son 
Joseph has since lived. The buildings he erected on 
the former place are now all gone. He d. April 9, 



TOWN OP' RICHMOND. 449 

1814, a^ed 71 ; she d. April 4, 1833, aged 77. Had 
ten children, viz. : Mary, b. Dec. 22, 1771 ; Iluldah, 
b. Jan. 25, 1772, m. Levi Randall ; Joseph and Ben- 
jamin, twins, b. Feb. 24, 1776; Job, b. Oct. 6, 1779; 
Jonathan, b. Aug. 6, 1781 ; John, b. Oct. 13, 1783 ; 
Catherine, b. Sept. 10, 1785, m. Rufiis Taft ; Asa, b. 
Sept. I, 1787 ; Arnold, b. Oct. 21, 1789; Rhoda, b. 
Dec. 25, 1791, 1st m. George BulTiim, jr., 2d m. 
Stephen Rice, ofChesterlield. 

'Joseph Nc-Lvell — Joseph — m. Polly, dr. of Joseph 
Hammond, of Swansey. Succeeded his father on 
the Rev. Artemas Aldrich place. He d. Feb. 7, 
1 861 ; she d. May 12, 1858. Had Joseph, b. March 
5, 1802 ; Josiah, b. Oct. 27, 1804, d. in Boston about 
1845 ; George, b. May 22, 1806, 

Benjamin Nczvell — Joseph — ist m., Aug. 30, 
1798, Patience, dr. of Jonathan Gaskill ; 2d m. Kez- 
iah, widow of Aaron Whipple, and dr. of John Cass, 
jr. Lived on the Ephraim Taft place. Removed to 
his father's old place, north of Sandy pond, and there 
built a new house, where he spent his last days. He 
d. 1868 ; Patience d. Feb. 26, 1802 ; Keziah d. Had 
thirteen children. By Patience had : Job, b. Jan. 29, 
1800; Gaskill, b. Jan. 29, 1802. By Keziah had: 
Patience, b. Sept. 30, 1803, d. Sept. 19, 1805 ; Jason, 
b. June 6, 1805 ; Thomas, b. March 30, 1807, lives 
in N. Y. ; Lorenzo, b. June 22, 1809, d. inWoon- 
socket, March 23, 1850 ; Silence, b. June 29, 181 i,m. 
Joseph Man; infant, b. Nov. 2, 1813, d. ; Lydia, b. 
Feb. 13, 1815 ; Almira, b. June 6, 1817, m. Asa 
Piper; Benjamin, b. Aug. 12, 1819 ; Joseph, b. Mar. 
17, 1822, d. Oct. 26, 1849; Keziah, b. March 28, 
1824, m. Asa Piper. 
39 



450 ' HISTORY OF THE 

Joseph JYewell jd — Joseph — Joseph — m., Oct. 
28, 1827, Harriet, dr. of Josiah Lawrence. Lived 
with his father. He died suddenly, Oct. 8, 1871 ; his 
widow and daughter continue on the old homestead. 
Had Josiah L., b. April 22, 1828; Polly Angela, b. 
Nov. 14, 1830, m. Oscar Bennett. 

George Nczvell — Joseph — Joseph — removed to 
Pawtucket, R. L, where for many years he was en- 
gaged in the lumber business. Has a wife, but no 
children. 

Beujainin Newell, jr. — Benjamin — Joseph — m. 
Sarah Walker, of Woonsocket, where he lived some 
years. Removed to Richmond, and lived with his 
father, when he enlisted in Company F, 14th Reg. 
N. H. volunteers, and d. Oct., 1864, of disease con- 
tracted in the service. Had George W., b. Nov. 30, 
1845 ; Emil3',b. Sept. i, 1847 ; Benjamin, b. 1849, d. 
April, 1880 ; Amanda E., b. April 16, 1852 ; Thomas 
W., b. Aug. 16, 1854; Lorin S., b. Oct. 25, 1856; 
Moses R., b. Aug. 18, 1861. 

yosiah L. A^ewell — Joseph — Joseph — Joseph — 
m. Mary, dr. of Abner Barden, Nov. 26, 1856. 
Lives on the Otis Cass place. No children. 

George W. Newell — Benjamin — Benjamin — Jo- 
seph — was never married. Was town clerk four 
years, and was licensed to preach by the Methodists. 
He d. Nov. 1879. 

Nathan Nezuellm., March 27, 1806, Delila, dr. of 
Reuben Wheeler, of Marlboro'. Removed from 
Troy to the house now owned by Willard Randall, 
about 1825. Was a blacksmith, and his shop was 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 45 1 

opposite the Dr. Parkhurst house. He d. May 2, 
1835 ; sl^t; d. Oct. 16, 1862. Had Amos W., b. Aug. 
13, 1806; Annie, b. June 22, 1809, m. Aaron Whee- 
ler, and lived in Swansey, d. some years ago ; Nathan 
F., b. July 31, 1820. 

Amos W. New ell — Nathan — m. Sarah L. Lar- 
kin. Is a blacksmith at middle of the town. Lives 
in the house built by Amos Bennett. 

Nathan F. Newell^ — Nathan — m. Emily B., 
dr. of Luke Harris. Has lived in Mass., N. Y., and 
111., and now resides in East Swansey. Is a black- 
smith and machinist. Had Edgar L., b. July 26, 
1750, m. F. E. Fisher ; Leonard A., b. Feb. 12, 1858, 
m. N. I. Lewis; Emma F., b. Jan. 30, 1862, m. 
Chester L. Lane. He d. 1884. 




'John Newell was a shingle-maker from New 
Salem. Came to town about 1830; often lived in 
shanties in the woods ; had a home for some years with 
David Buffum ; was somewhat cranky, and was a 
great lover of old cider. The spiritual afflatus in_ 
duced by its immoderate use caused him to preach 



452 HISTORY OF THE 

by the wayside by night and by day. He spoke of 
" garments dipped in blood," of the " thunders of 
Mount Sinai," and of the " wonders of the transit of 
Venus." He died 1865. 

To heights sublime sometimes he soared, 
But of the lower depths more often roared ; 
Sometimes on all his blessings fell, 
More often all he sent to hell. 



NEWTON. 

Reuben Newton came from Royalston, 1838. Lived 
on the Jona. Thurber farm. Sold to Joseph N. Taft. 



NORWOOD. 

Francis JVorzvood, blacksmith, and f. s. on L. 8, 
R. II. His house was near the big rock on the 
present Winchester road, and on the old road first 
laid through the town. He was among the first of 
the early settlers. Had two sons, viz. : Francis, who 
m., July 9, 1778, Lydia Barney; and Micajah, who 
m., Feb. 5, 1792, Lydia Cooper, and removed to 
Swansey. No other record of family. 

Charles JVorzvood, from North Reading, ist m. 
Mary Hart; 2d m., Oct. 6, 1852, Phebe, dr. of 
Jeremiah Bolles ; 3d m. Olive, dr. of Timothy Pick- 
ering ; lived on the Jeremiah Bolles place from 1855 
to 1874 ' h^s kept the store at the Four corners since 
1877. Had by Mary: Mary, b. April 18, 1840, d. 
Jan. 2, 1863; Clara, b. May 2, 1842; John E., b. 
June 28, 1846. By Phebe had Florence, b. Feb. 6, 
1855 ; Nellie, b. April 29, 1859. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 453 

yohn E. JVorwood — Charles — is unmarried; has 
charge of the old corner store at the Four corners ; 
was out in the 14th N. H. in the late war; was rep- 
resentative to the General Court, 1883, and is now 
town treasurer. 

NOURSE. 

Brozun Nou7-sc m. Mary Wheeler, of Troy ; was 
from Boxboro' ; opened a store at the Four corners, 
1831 ; removed to Troy, 1835. Had Mary Jane, b. 
Aug. 2, 1833. He d. in Fitchburg ; she d. in Troy. 

NUTTING. 

'John Nuttings from New Ipswich, 1870, bought 
the Woodbury mills. He d. March 6, 1876. Had 
six children, four of whom came with him, viz. : 
John P., Oliver J., b. Aug. 9, 1848; Laura M., and 
Jennie, m. George Sprague. 

yohn P. JVutting — John — m. Lizzie, dr. of Asa 
Bullock ; lived at the mills with his father. Had 
Victor P., b. June, 1875, removed to Lyme, N. H., 
Dec, 1882. 

Oliver y. Nutting — John — m., Dec. 2, 1873, 
Clara Wetherly, of New Ipswich ; lives now on the 
Henry Rice place. Had four children, viz. : Cora 
M., b. April 10, 1876; John G., b. Sept. 16, 1877; 
Stella L., b. Oct. 3, 1879; Myrta C, b. Nov. 15, 
1880; d. April 2, 1882. 

ORMSBY. 

Oliver Ormsby m. Alice, dr. of Deacon John Cass, 
March 15, 1770. Had eight children, whose names 



454 HISTORY OF THE 

are now illegible on the records. A part of his chil- 
dren were born in Charlemont, and in Buckland, 
Mass. He d. 1790. The family probably returned 
to one of those places. We have the record of the 
marriage of Ebenezer Ormsby with Experience 
Clark, Nov. 29, 1787, and also of Joseph with Deb- 
orah Stone, Aug. 17, 1789. Ebenezer was prob- 
ably the f. s. on L. 15, R. i, the place where Reuben 
and Laban Phillips lived. 

Royal Ormsby, the reputed son of Joseph Ormsby 
and Nancy Linty, b. Dec. 23, 1786, ist m. Lydia 

; 2d m. Mary Taft, dr. of Nathaniel, March 5, 

181 2. He was a blacksmith, and had a shop north 
of Leason Martin's; removed to Monroe, Mass., 
1816. Had by Lydia : Laura, b., Jan. 10, 1807 ; 
Louisa, b. Dec. 5, 1808. 

PAGE. 

£lt Page, from Smithfield, b. Feb. 26, 1750, m. 

Sylvia ; was f. s. on L. 20, R. 11, the place 

west of the Saben farm. Had Caleb, b. Nov. i, 
1776, m. Deborah Hammond, of Swansey, March 
21, 1799; Stephen, b. May 11, 1779, m. Lucy Dar- 
ling, May 31, 1801 ; Joseph, m. Patty Marble, 
of Winchester, March 22, 1800; Jeremiah, m. Han- 
nah Robinson, Oct. 4, 181 1 ; Eli, m. Margery Mar- 
tin, Jan. 25, 1816. All removed from town many 
years ago. Record of family incomplete. 

PAINE. 

Addison Paine, b. in Smithfield, April 4, 1824, son 
of Tyler Paine, brought up by his grandfather Bas- 
sett, m. Lucy, dr. of Elijah Harkness. He carried 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 455 

on the Harkness mill in company with Almando 
Ballon ; and, lastly, he lived on the Silas Ballon 
farm. He d. March 28, 1866. His widow is now 
insane in the hospital at Worcester. Had two drs., 
Alice and Medora. 

PALMER. 

Dexter Palmer^ son of Alexander W. Palmer and 
his wife Betsey Alexander, brought up by Barnabas 

Barrus, m. Eunice E. , and by her had George 

C, b. March 28, 1854; Susan M., b. Dec. 7, 1856; 
Henry D., b. Aug. 7, 1859. ^^ ^'^^ ^ soldier in the 
late war, and d. of disease contracted in the service. 
His widow m. Hiram Br3^ant. 

PARKER. 

Reuben Parker ist m. Sarah, dr. of Thomas 
Wooley, June 19, 1759; -^ "^- Esther Townsend, of 
Townsend, Mass. He was from Reading, Mass. ; 
was a blacksmith, and had a shop on the Wooley 
place, the first probably in town ; removed to the hill 
which bears his name, 1765 ; was f. s. on the west 
halves of L. 3 and 4, R. 9. He d. Jan. 10, 1825, 
aged 91; Sarah d. Dec. 20, 1779; Esther d. Oct. 
20, 1811. Had by Sarah : Reuben, b. in Reading, 
March 3, 1760; Charles, b. Nov. 6, 1761 ; Sarah, b. 
Sept. 2, 1763 ; Silas, b. Aug. 11, 1765 ; Benjamin, b. 
July 3, 1767; Amos, b. Feb. 17, 1770; Jonathan, b. 
Nov. 25, 1771 ; Edmund, b. June 20, 1774; Mary 
and Phebe, b. June 12, 1776, Phebe m. Jonathan 
Bolles. By Esther had : Townsend, b. Oct. 9, 1781 ; 
Esther, b. Dec. 2, 1783; Jacob, b. March 3, 1786: 
John, b. June 19, 1788; Samuel, b. April 14, 1790. 



456 HISTORY OF THE 

The elder sons of Mr. Reuben Parker removed from 
town quite early ; a number of them settled in the 
northern part of the state, where they became active 
and enterprising citizens, and were connected with 
some of the more important leading industries of that 
section. The old farm on Parker hill is still in pos- 
session of his descendants, Curtis and John Parker — 
an exceptional case in this town. 

Charles Pai'Jcer — Reuben — m. Sibbel Hix, Nov. 
20, 1783 ; removed from town. 

Silas Parker — Reuben — m. Lydia, dr. of Rufus 
Whipple. Had Levi, b. Nov. 2, 1792 ; Silas, b. 
April 7, 1795 ; removed to Sugar hill, Lisbon, N. H. 

Jacob Parker — Reuben — ist m.,Jan. 11, 1811, 
Elizabeth, dr. of Ebenezer Blanding ; 2d m. Pru- 
dence, dr. of Isquire Davis. Had no children ; 
lived on his father's place with Samuel ; carried on 
blacksmithing and farming. Both families ate at the 
same table, and had but one money-purse. He d. 
Oct. 16, 1848 ; Elizabeth d. Nov. 24, 181 1 ; Prudence 
d. March 8, 1848. 

Toivnsend Parker — Reuben — m. L3'dia Ballou, 
b. Jan. 24, 1783, dr. of Jared. Lived near Jacob and 
Samuel, on part of his father's farm. He was in the 
war of 1812. He d. Sept. 2, i860; she d. Aug. 2, 
1873. Children: Esther, b. Dec. 21, 1811, m. John 
Kimpton, lives in Stoneham ; Hannah, b. March 27, 
1817, m. Ebenezer Swan, 4th; Sarah, b. April 21, 
1820, m. F. L. Lindsay; John, b. Aug. 15, 1822. 

Samuel Parker — Reuben — m., Jan. 8, 1814, 
Sally, dr. of Calvin Curtis, of Swansey. He d. Nov. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 457 

13, i860 ; she d. Aug. 7, 1861. Had Eliza, b. March 
.2, 1818, m. Ansel Harris; Curtis, b. April 13, 1825. 

yohn Parke?- — Townsend — Reuben — m. Omeria 
C. Page, of Warren, N. H., Sept. 27, 1871. Lives 
in a new house south of the old homestead. Chil- 
dren : Alice P., b. Feb. 16, 1874; William A., b. 
Dec. 7, 1876, d. March 13, 1877 ; Lydia E.,b. March 
6, 1878 ; Albert G., b. Jan. 18, 1880. 

Ciirii's Parker — Samuel — Reuben — m., June 6, 
1849, Lovina, dr. of John Barrus. Lives on the old 
homestead. Had Theodore, b. Sept. 25, 1850 ; Clara 
L., b. Sept. 10, 1852, m. Henry Tolman ; Rhoda E., 
b. Feb. 18, 1858, m. Lorie A. Howard; Benjamin 
H., b. Jan. 30, i860, d. April 11, 1861 ; Jennie Mabel, 
b. Aug. 12, 1863, m. Fred. N. Harris. Lovina d. 
Oct. 19, 1873. 

Philemon Parker, from Fitzwilliam, m. Rhoda, 
widow of Jacob Bp3'ce, 1814, and lived with her on 
the Elisha Perry place until 1822. 

Windsor Parker, from Swansey, m. Olive Curtis, 
dr. of Samuel, sr. Lived in the Nathaniel Taft house, 
1828; removed to Providence, R. L 

PARKHURST. 

Dr. 'John Parkhurst was b. in Marlboro', N. H., 
Feb. 20, 1782. Studied medicine with Dr. Carter, 
of Keene ; graduated at the Dartmouth Medical Col- 
lege, and removed to Richmond about 1811 ; practiced 
in town until 1840. When on a visit to his brother in 
Penn. he d. in Sept. of that year. He m. Laura 
Gleason, Sept. 8, 1822. Had John, b. Feb. 13, 



458 HISTORY OF THE 

1823 ; Elizabeth, b. Sept. 17, 1825, m. Dr. Leander 
Smith ; Joel G., b. Dec. 13, 1827. He d. Sept., 1840 ; , 
Laura, his wife, d. Aug. 19, 1841. The children re- 
moved to Perm. Joel and Elizabeth d. in Penn. 

yohn Parkhurst, jr. — John — m. Lucy, dr. of 
Col. Stephen Buffum. Had Edgar, b. about 1841. 
Was in trade a short time, about i84i-'2, with H. 
B. Swan, at the Four corners. He soon after re- 
moved to Lawrenceville, Tioga Co., Penn., where he 
engaged in mercantile pursuits. From thence, in 
1847, he removed to Elkland, in the same county, 
where he continued in the business of merchandizing 
until 1867, when he commenced the business of bank- 
ing, which he has followed ever since, together with 
manufacturing chemicals, and latterly has added to 
his other business the manufacture of chairs. By his 
sagacity, perseverance, and business tact he has ac- 
quired a competency. His son Edgar died in the 
late war. 

PATCH. 

yacob Patchy from Fitzwilliam, b. Feb. 25, 1789, 
m., March 13, 1817, Eliza, dr. of John Harkness. 
Lived on the William Hills place, L. 14, R. i, now 
owned by Eddie Putney. He afterwards carried on 
the farms of Stephen Buffum, Obed Harkness, and 
George Buffum. He removed to Templeton, 1837, 
and from thence returned to Daniel Bassett's, 1840, 
to Swansey, 1842. He and his wife d. in Fitchburg, 
with his son Lyman. Had Edwin, b. Oct. 4, 1817, 
lives in South Royalston ; Angelina, b. Jan. 29, 1819, 
d. Feb. 16, 1821 ; Jacob, b. March 25, 1821, went to 
California; Lyman, b. Dec. 24, 1822; Lydia M., b. 




JOHN PARKHURST, Jr. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 459 

July lo, 1825, d. March 17, 1845 ; Eliza E., b. Oct. 
17, 1827, m. Harvey Evans, d. Sept. 18, 1858 ; Isaac, 
b. May 31, 1831, lives in Fitchburg ; John H., b. 
Sept. 14, 1835, lives ^^ Springfield, is road-master on 
Conn. R. R. ; Mary Jane, b. April 20, 1840, m. 
George Green, d. Aug. 30, 1865. 

Lyman Patch, son of Jacob, is a manufacturer and 
dealer in stoves, tin ware, etc., in Fitchburg, Mass. 
He is one of the natives of the old town who have been 
eminently successful in his business operations ; is 
one of the leading men of Fitchburg, and is reputed 
wealthy. 

PERRY. 

Oliver Perry, from Mendon, m. Amy Streeter. 
Was f. s. on L. 20, R. 2, known as the Dr. Ware, or 
Merrifield place. Had eleven children, viz. : John, 
b. April 19, 1781 ; Edward, b. Sept. 9, 1782 ; Nahum, 
b. July 4, 1784, d. in the war of 181 2 ; Alpheus, b. 
April 24, 1786, lived in Swansey ; Amy, b. June 15, 
1788, m. John Martin ; Hannah, b. Oct. 11, 1791, m. 
Ezekiel White ; Oliver, b. May 19, 1794; Mary, b. 
March 15, 1797, m. Amos H. Reed; Stephen, b. 
May 20, 1800; Jairus, b. June 25, 1804; Daniel, b. 
Nov. 29, 1806. He d. 1817. 

'John Perry — Oliver — m., Dec. 26, 1805, Tam- 
asin, dr. of Moses Martin. Lived in Swansey. Had 
Nahum, Noah, and others. He d. Jan. 28, 1852. 

Nahum Perry — Oliver — m. Sall}^ White of Fitz- 
william, Nov. 27, 1806. Was a soldier in the war of 
1812, and d. in the service; had Olive, b. Feb. 6, 
1808 ; Judah, b. Aug. 2, 1808; Sally, b. Nov. 26, 
1813 ; Luther, b. Nov. 24, 1815. 



460 HISTORY OF THE 

yairus Perry — Oliver — m. Susan Harris. Had 
Stephen, George, Daniel O., Susan, Amasa, Lydia, 
and Alvin. She d. July 16, 1865, aged 60. 

Daniel Perry — Oliver — m. Lovina, dr. of Sal- 
mon Martin. Lived on the Salmon Martin place. 
Had Polly, m. Augustus Stratton ; Francis, lives in 
Winchendon : Harriet, b. Dec. 19, 1841, ist m. Lin- 
coln, 2d m. Davis ; Clarendon, lives in Winchendon. 
He d. Jan. 24, 1864, age 57 ; she d. July 30, 1872, 
age 65. 

Nahum Perry — John — Oliver — m. Arethusa, dr. 
of George Martin 3d ; lived in Swansey. Had four 
children, one of whom was B3'ron D., b. March 25, 
1858. 

Noah Pe7-ry — John — Oliver — b. Dec. 23, 1815, 
1st m. Savalla, dr. of Zephaniah Bowen, Nov. 26, 
1843 ; 2d m. Philanda A., dr. of Otis Whipple, jr. ; 
lives on the Rev. Maturin Ballon farm, known also 
as the Bump place. No children. Savalla d. Jan. 
25, 1863. 

Byron D. Perry, son of Nahum, from Swansey, 
m. Carrie Long, Nov. 26, 1879 ' lives on the Joseph 
Buftum place. 

Elisha Perry, from Fitzwilliam, m., June 25, 181 2, 
Diana, dr. of Jacob Boyce. He lived on the place 
now occupied by Nathaniel Hills ; removed to New 
York about 1840. Had Louisa, m. Henry Handy ; 
Jacob, Diana, and Lysander. 

David Perry, from Warwick, m. Lydia, dr. of 
Ephraim Hix, June 18, 1798 ; lived north-east of the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 461 

old Hix place, near the woods where the school- 
house has been moved. 

PECK. 

Ezekicl Peck came to town about 1848, from 
Weston, Vt. ; lived on the Stephen Harris farm until 
187 1, when he removed to Troy. Had Joel, Orrin, 
Annette, and S. Malvina. 

PETERS. 

Richard Peters, from Cumberland, was f. s. on L. 
20, R. 6. His house was on the west side of the 
road, north of the Joseph Newell place. He sold to 
Simpson Hammond, 1776, and probably removed to 
his son Richard's, and lived on the opposite side of 
the road. 

Richard Peters, jr., from Cumberland, was f. s. 
on L. 21, R. 5. His farm embraced both sides of 
the road, including the Martin Cass and Hendrick 
Martin places ; removed to the farm now owned by 
Almon Twitchell, 1781, and there built the house, 
together with the store, now standing on the premises, 
about 1795. He and his son Lemuel kept a public 
house and store until about 1805, when the estate 
was sold to Benjamin Crooker. His wife was Mary, 
dr. of Daniel Cass. Had Lemuel, b. July 21, i772» 
^Lary, b. Oct. 5, 1778, m. Joseph Weeks; and six 
others. 

Lemuel Peters — Richard — lived with his father, 
as above stated, and mo\'ed to Alabama about 1806. 
Had by his wife Sarah, three children. 

Ehenezer Peters m., Nov. 21, 1771, Martha Al- 
drich, probably a sister to Nathan ; was f. s. on L. 



462 



HISTORY OF THK 



17, R. 3, known since as the Reuben Bovven place. 
Had five children. 

Israel Peters m., Dec. 11, 1783, Eunice Miller, 
and had Elizabeth, b. June i, 1784. He lived south- 
west of Danvers Martin's. 




4 



Daniel Peters had a house on land formerly owned 
by Zimri Bowen, south of the Benson place ; was in 
the habit of wearing a peaked red-cloth cap, with a 
tassel on the top. The story is that one evening, on 
returning home, an owl lit upon this cap, under the 
impression, no doubt, that it was a hen, and that 
Peters seized the owl, carried it home, and cooked it 
for dinner. This incident gave rise to the following 
lines : — 

Daniel Peters caught an owl, for a fowl, 

For to make a stew ; 
He killed a rat for its fat, 
And said he'd make it do. 



PHILLIPS. 



Israel Philltfs m. Amit^s probably a sister of 
Anthony Harris; was f. s. on L. 6, R. 3, the place 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 463 

now owned by Mrs. Amos A. Flint. He removed to 
Saratoga Co., N. Y., nearly one hundred years ago. 
Had Abraham and William. 

Reuben Phillips^ ist m. (name unknown) ; lived 
on L. 15, R. I, the place north of the William Hills 
farm. Had Laban, Sylvia, and others. 2d m. Pru- 
dence, dr. of Stephen White, of Fitzwilliam, and by 
her had Reuben, Asa, Cynthia, and others. No 
record of family. 

Laban Phillips — Reuben — m., July 7, 1799, 
Hannah, dr. of William Hills ; lived on a part of a 
lot south of his father's. Had John, Reuben, and 
Hannah. He left town, 1816. 



PICKERING. 
yohn Picker ino- came from Salem about 1778: 
bought of Stephen Kimpton his farm, L. 3, R. 4, the 
place now owned by William T. Carter, known as 
the Seth A. Curtis place ; was the fifth in descent 
from John Pickering, who came from England and 
settled in Salem, 1633. His lineage runs thus : 
John — William — John — John — John; and was a 
cousin of Col. Timothy Pickering, who was also 
called Judge Pickering, and was the author of 
"Pickering's Reports. Had twelve children, viz. : 
Nathaniel, Theophilus, Hannah, m. Samuel Welling- 
ton ; Jonathan, Timothy, b. 1781 ; Betsey, m. John 
Ballou ; Samuel, David, Lois, m. Abner Thurber ; 
Eunice, b. in Salem, m. Brooks Gale ; Sarah, m. 
Nathaniel Marshall. 

XatJuDiicl Pickering- — John — m. widow Olive 
Butfum, dr. of Jonathan Gaskill, Dec. 9, 1790. Had 



464 HISTORY OF THE 

Ebenezer, Hannah, and Tamer. Removed to Ver- 
mont. 

Thcophilns Pickering — John — m., Feb. 12, 1797^ 
Sarah, dr. of Jeremiah Bullock. Removed to Ver- 
mont. 

yonatkan Pickering — John — m., March i, 1805, 
Mary, dr. of Joseph Cass. Had six children, viz.: 
Louisa, Polly, Josiah, Justus, Albert, and Mary Ann. 
Removed. 

Timothy Pickering — John — ist m. Martha, dr. 
of Thomas Kelton, of Warwick; 2d m., Au^. 15, 
181 2, Nellie, sister of Martha Kelton. He was a 
carpenter ; lived in the house now owned by Henry 
Rice, at the Four corners. He d. May 25, 1844; 
Martha d. Aug. 26, 181 1 ; Nellie d. Nov. 22, 1862, 
aged 76. Had by Martha: Eunice, b. Jan. 4, 1803, 
m. Eli Howe, May 27, 1823, d. May 25, 1825 ; 
Nathaniel, b. April 30, 1805, removed to Illi- 
nois, 1835 '•> Horace, b. Jan. 29, 1808 ; removed to Il- 
linois ; Martha, b. April 21, 1811, d. 1878 in 
Illinois. By Nellie had Thomas K., b. Oct. 19, 
1812, d. Oct. 16, 1813 ; David, b. April 13, 1814, d. 
Aug. 13, 1835 '■> Alanson,b. Oct. 28, 1815 ; Sylphina, 
b. Aug. 18, 1817, m. Ransom Ingalls ; Olive, b. Jan. 
27, 1820, 1st m. Joseph R. Buffum, 2d m. Charles 
Norwood; Timothy, b. Oct. 30, 1821, m. Arvilla 
Williams, d. in Swansey, March 16, 1852 ; John, b. 
Nov. 27, 1823, removed to Cascade, Id., d. at Louis- 
ville, Ky., while on his way to join the army, 1865 ; 
Van Rensselaer, b. March 29, 1826, m. Annah, dr. 
of Seth A. Curtis, lives in Pascoag, R. I., is an ex- 
pressman ; Amaziah K., b. July 28, 1832, lives at 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 465 

Eagle Grove, Wright Co., la. ; Lovel K., b. April 
20, 1834, '""• Martha J., dr. of Nicholas Cook, d. in 
Philadelphia, 1882. 

Samuel Pickering — John — m., Nov. 22, 1807, 
Olive, dr. of Jedediah Buffum, jr. He lived first on 
the William Garnsey place, and from thence removed 
to the place now owned by the widow of Jonathan 
Cass. He removed to Winchester, 1824. Had Fer- 
dinand, b. March 22, 1809; Loren, b. July 31, 1812 ; 
Alcander, Alvira, and Samuel. 

Ferdinand Pickering — Samuel — John — settled 
in Winchester ; was a good mechanic ; he as well as 
his father was quite deaf; he was killed while walk- 
ing on the Ashuelot railroad by an approaching train, 
the signals of which he failed to hear. 

Samuel Pickering — Samuel — John — m. Lorina, 
dr. of Kendall Fisher ; he lived with his father on the 
old Caleb Alexander place in Winchester. He d. 
when about 25 years of age. 

Loren Pickering, son of Samuel, lives in San 
Francisco, Cal. ; is editor of the "San Francisco 
Morning Call." He was for some years editor of a 
paper in St. Louis, Mo. He evidently ranks with 
the first journalists in the country. 

Rev. David Pickering — John — was self-educated, 

and was a Free-Will Baptist at first, but was con- 
verted to Universalism by Rev. Paul Dean. He was 
settled in Shrevvsbur}', Vt., in Lebenon, N. H., and 
in Hudson, N. Y. He took charge of the first 
Universalist church in Providence, R. I., 1823 ; was 
30 



466 HISTORY OF THE 

editor of the "Christian Telescope," published in 
Providence, from 1824 to 1828, and author of 
"Lectures on Defence of Divine Revelation," 1831 ; 
published a hymn-book, 1828, and was editor of the 
"Gospel Preacher," 1828. He removed from Provi- 
dence to western New York, and finally removed 
to Ypsilanti, Mich., where he d. Jan. 6, 1859. 

Alanson Pickering — Timothy — John — m. Phi- 
anda M., dr. of Benoni Ballon, May 28, 1840 ; was 
a carpenter and wheelwright; had a shop where 
Mrs. Vienna Scott's house stands. He d. Jan. 21, 
1849; ^^^ ^' ^ug., 1882. Had three children, viz. : 
Charles F., b. May 25, 1841 ; Warren A., b. Sept. 
7, 1844; Sarah Jane, d. in infancy. 

Charles F. Pickering — Alanson — Timothy — 
John — 1st m. Mary C. Bemis, of Dummerston ; 2d 
m., March 28, 1883, Ida M., dr. of Jonas Wheeler. 
He built and lived in the house next east of Benoni 
Ballou's. Had by Mary C. : Lillian M., b. July 10, 
1867, d. in infancy; Ernest C, b. Sept. i, 1868; 
Mary A., b. Nov. i, 1872, d. in infancy. 

Warren A. Pickerifig — Alanson — Timothy — 
John — is m. , and is a policeman in New Haven, Ct. ; 
was in the service in the late war. 

Williatn Pickerings who was a brother of John, 
from Salem, bought, about 1780, Silas Gaskill'g, 
farm, and lived on the same until about 1795, when 
he removed to Warwick. He m., Nov. 18, 1781, 
Philadelphia, dr. of Stephen Kimpton, and had 
Hannah, b. Oct. 8, 1784; also William and Tamer, 
and perhaps some others. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 467 

PICKETT. 

Ernest L. Pickett^ son of Hosea G., of Winchester, 
m. Alma I., dr. of Ambrose Swan; was a black- 
smith at the Four corners, 1882. Had Leon E., b. 
June 6, 1882. 

PIPER. 

Asa Piper ist m. Almira, dr. of Benjamin Newell, 
Dec. 21, 1836 ; 2d m. Keziah, sister of Almira, Dec. 
28, 1848; 3d m., Nov. 20, 1859, Caroline Starkey, 
dr. of James BufFum. He came to Richmond, from 
Orange, about 1845 ; lived on the Bassett place, at 
the Four corners ; built a steam saw-mill at the Four 
corners about 1854. He d. Oct. 5, 1865 ; Almira d. 
Feb. 23, 1848; Keziah d. Jan. i, i860. Had by 
Almira : Volney, who m. Julia Cole, and now lives 
in East Templeton. He was a soldier in the late 
war. 

POTTER. 

Moses Potter m. Lovisa, dr. of Richard Peters, 
Nov. 21, 1793; was licensed as an innkeeper at the 
Crooker place. Had five children. 

Stephen Potter, from Swansey, m. Martha, dr. of 
Nathan Aldrich ; lived on his wife's place, the house 
built and occupied by her father. He d. Dec. 15, 
1863, ai;fed 97, the greatest age of any man in town. 
She d. Aug. 4, 1853, aged 67. 

POWERS. 

David Powers, b. in Phillipston, March 25, 1783, 
removed from Petersham to Richmond, April i, 



468 HISTORY OF THE 

1820. He bought the Wakefield tavern, at the Four 
corners ; sold the same to Stephen Wheeler, jr., about 
1830; removed to Royalston, April i, 183 1, and 
from thence to Hardwick, April i, 1834. ^^ "^* 
Mary Gleason, at Langdon, N. H., Feb. 17, 1814. 
Had Avalina C, b. in Petersham, Nov. 12, 1814, m. 
Arad Walker, 1833 ; Lysander, b. in Petersham, 
Nov. 28, 1816 ; Mary, b. in Richmond, July 21, 

1821, d. Nov. I, 1824; Louisa, b. Nov. 11, 1823, 
m. Edward Dexter; Mary Angelia, b. Feb. 16, 
1829, m. Windsor Gleason; Julia A., b. Nov. 20, 
1831, m. Alfred Robinson. David Powers d. Dec. 
17, 1866, aged 83 ; Mary, his wife, d. June 29, 1844, 
aged 53. 

Lysander Power's, son of David, m. Hannah Dex- 
ter, of Hardwick, June 8, 1842, where he now re- 
sides. He is a successful farmer in the town of his 
adoption, well respected by his townsmen, and cer- 
tainly an honor to the town of his early home. 

PRESCOTT. 

Fred. Prcscott, son of Mrs. C. H. Doolittle, owns 
the house next west of Dan. Buffum's. He now 
resides with his mother. 

PUFFER. 

Oliver Puffer, son of Rev. Reuben Puffer, D.D., 
of Berlin, Mass., b. about 1800, m. Phebe Thayer, 
dr. of Asa ; bought the Capron clothing works at 
North Richmond, in company with Martin Sawver, 
183 1 ; removed to New Salem, where he d., aged 
about 80. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 469 

PUTNEY. 

Ez7'a Putney came to town about 1833 ; lived 
several years on the place south of the road by the 
Noah Aldrich place, and, lastly, on the Samuel Car- 
penter farm ; removed to Fitzwilliam, 1854. Had a 
son, David, who lives in Fitzwilliam. His wife d. 
Jan. 8, 1859, aged 72. 

Nahuni Putney, from Fitzwilliam, removed to the 
place settled by Josiah Woodward, and known as 
the Hill place, 1848. He d. in the late war. Had 
by Julia, his wife: William C, George W., Henry, 
b. Nov. 6, 1850; Susan, b. May 19, 1853; Eddie, b. 
July 21, 1855 ; Harvey, b. March 7, 1858; Nahum, 
b. Feb. 10, 1862. 

William C. Putney, son of Nahum, m. Serussa 
Brown, Dec. 24, 1867. He owns and operates the 
Thornton mills ; manufactures lumber and pail-stuff. 
Had Ellsworth, b. Aug. 26, 1868, and a dr., b. Feb. 
9, 1874. 

Eddie Putney, son of Nahum, m. Hattie C. Car- 
penter, Jan. II, 1880. He lives on his father's place. 
Had Hattie S., b. 1881. 

RAMSDELL. 

Aquilla Ramsdcll was a resident of the town 
about 1786. He probably lived on the place once 
occupied by Capt. Abner Aldrich. He removed to 
Swansey. 

Elisha Ranisdelh from Swansey, lived a few 
years on a place north of Reuben Bowen's, L. 19, R. 
3 ; house on the east side of the Road. He occupied 
the place from 1830 to 1833. 



470 HISTORY OF THE 

RANDALL. 
Abraham Randall, b. Nov. 24, 1731, came from 
Smithiield, 1763, and was f. s. on L. 12, R. 8, known 
as the David Buftum place. Was the ancestor of all 
of the name in this vicinity. He was substantially 
the first settler, although it is probable that a small 
clearing had been made by his wife's brother, a Mr. 
Lyon, the year before. He removed to Swansey 
about 1786. Had by his wife, Sarah Lyon, eleven 
children, four of whom were born before his advent 
in Richmond, viz.: Freelove, b. Jan. 11, 1754, "^• 
Jonathan Wheeler; Mary, b. Oct. 22, 1756, m. An- 
anias Aldrich ; Reuben, b. Jan. 27, 1760; Levi, b. 
Dec. 22, 1761 ; Wait, b. April 10, 1763 ; Sarah, b. 
Aug. 20, 1765, m. David Twitchell ; Rufus, b. Dec. 
5, 1768; Asahel, b. April 30, 1770; Stephen, b. Feb. 
15, 1774; Abraham, b. Oct. 7, 1778; William, b. 
Sept. 26, 1780. He d. 1804. 

Reuben Randall — Abraham — m. Mary Aldrich, 
from Northbridge, a sister of Joseph Newell's wife. 
Was f. s. on L. 17, R. 2 ; apparently the first and 
last occupant of the place. Had twelve children, 
viz. : Hannah, b. Jan. 10, 1783, d. March 25, 1855 ; 
David, b. July 21, 1784; Mary, b. Sept. 29, 1785; 
Joseph, b. June i, 1786; Rufus, b. June 29, 1792, d. 
March 10, 1867 ; Sarah, b. July 19, 1794; Lydia, b. 
April 26, 1796, m. Amos Wheeler; Rhoda, b. June 
12, 1798, m. Peregrine Wheeler; Silence, b. Nov. 
25, 1800, d. young; Reuben, b. Nov. i, 1802 ; Levi, 
b. June 8, 1805 ; Stephen, b. May 25, 1807, d. May, 
1883. He d. Aug. 16, 1851, aged 91 ; she d. about 
1830. 

Levi Randall — Abraham — m. Huldah, dr. of 
Joseph Newell, Nov. 12, 1792. Bought, 1801, of 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 47 1 

Dea. Simeon Thayer, his i'arm, L. 14, R. 8, the 
place now owned by Walter N. Gay, and to the orig- 
inal place he added the farms of Lot Aldrich, David 
Robinson, and others. Built the house now standing 
on the premises, 1813. He d. July 3, 1843, age 82 ; 
she d. May 16, 1861, aged 87. Had fifteen children, 
viz.: Mary, b. Jan. 3, 1793, d. Feb. 15, 1828; Ben- 
jamin, b. July 28, 1794; Joseph, b. Aug. 24, 1796; 
Levi, b. Aug. 31, 1798; Huldah, b. Aug. 31, 1798, 
d. March 24, 1803 ; Abraham, b. Aug. 16, 1800, d. 
Sept. 29, 1873 ; Lucy, b. July 15, 1802, d. April 12, 
1803; Reuben, b. July 15, 1804, d. July 8, 1818; 
Elisha, b. Aug. 2, 1806, d. Nov. 10, 1809; Stephen, 
b. March 9, 1808; Lyman, b. April 17, 1810, lives 
in Pascagoula, Ala. ; Jonas, b. Nov. 14, 181 1, d. un- 
married ; John, b. April 15, 1814, lives in Boston; 
Silence, b. April 18, 1816, m. Edson Starkey ; David, 
b. Feb. 24, 1819, lives in Waltham, Mass. 

Stephen Ratidall — Abraham — ist m. i799,Lydia 
Hammond, of Swansey ; 2d m. Cena Smith, 1816. 
Lived in Winchester. 

William Randall — Abraham — m. Sarah, b. Sept. 
22, 1783, dr. of Uriah Parmenter ; 2d m., Aug. 18, 
1835, widow Mahala Kelton. Removed from Swan- 
sey to the place now owned and occupied by Amos 
and William Garnsey about 1815. He d. April 11, 
1859; Sarah d. June 26, 1834; Mahala d. Nov. 28, 
1865. Had by Sarah nine children, viz. : Willard, 
b. Dec. 24, 1802 ; Uriah, b. Sept. 30, 1804, d. Aug. 
9, 1806; Clarissa, b. Dec. 7, 1806, m. Amos Garn- 
sey; Moses, b. Feb. 23, 1809; William, b. Aug. 7, 
1811, d. June 18, 1813 ; Alfreda, b. March 23, 1814, 



472 HISTORY OF THE 

m. Andrew Watrous ; William, b. Aug. 25, 1816; 
Rhoda, b. April 11, 1819, m. Ahaz Bassett ; Asahel, 
b. July 26, 1822, d. Sept. 27, 1846. 

David Randall — Reuben — Abraham — m., 1824, 
Ruth, dr. of Moses Allen, jr. Lived with his lather. 
He d. April, 1836; she 2d m. Obed Harkness ; she 
d. March 2, 1881. Had eight children, viz. : David 
F., b. April 19, 1825, d. in Springfield; Reuben G., 
b. Sept. 26, 1826, is cashier of bank, Woonsocket, 
R. I. ; Hannah, d. in infancy ; Moses A., b. Oct. 20, 
1829, d. April 20, 1851 ; Stephen L., b. March 13, 
1831 ; Samuel, b. March 13, 1831, d. in infancy; 
Thomas A., b. Aug. 4, 1834, ^^ ^ cotton broker in 
Providence, R. I. ; Benjamin F., b. July 25, 1836, 
cotton broker, New Bedford. 

Stephen Randall — Levi — Abraham — ist m., 
Oct. 2, 1831, Diancy, dr. of Luther Cook. Lived on 
his father's place until 1869, when he removed to 
Keene, where he now resides. Shed. Oct. 12, 1882. 
Had Mary, b. Oct. 24, 1832, m. Asa H. Bullock; 
Stephen W., b. Oct. 4, 1840, d. Aug. 6, 1841 ; Levi 
W., b. May 13, 1842; David L., b. Nov. 23, 1844; 
Elbridge G., b. Feb. 13, 1853 ; Stephen Byron, b. 
Feb. 12, 1857, d. Dec. 12, 1882. He 2d m. Clara F. 
Farnum, Dec. 27, 1883. 

yoseph Randall — Levi — Abraham — m. Mary, 
dr. of David Holbrook ; removed, about 1823, to Mc- 
Donough, Chenango Co., N. Y., where he died, and 
the family returned to Richmond, about 1842. Had 
David R., b. Aug. 21, 1818, was a lawyer in Penn- 
sylvania, d. ; Susan, b. Feb. 11, 1820, m. Austin 
Brown ; Ardelia C, b. Oct. 28, 1824, m. Joseph Ham- 




Hon. DAVID RANDALL. 

(See page 473.) 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 473 

mond, d. ; Marv, b. June 28, 1826, m. John A. Bryant ; 
Sarah A., b. Oct. 5, 1827, m. Samuel Gates, of 
Keene ; Louisa, b. June 2, 1830, m. Dr. Samuel 
Wright; C3mthia, b. May 3, 1832; Elnorah E., b. 
Jan. 28, 1837. Mrs. Randall, Ardelia, Mary, and 
Sarah are now dead. 

David Randall — Lei^i — Abraham — ist m. Laura 
J., dr. of Moses Tyler; 2d m., June 24, 1869, Grace 
Robie. By Laura had D. Byron, b. 1846 ; Laura 
Eva, and Addie ; Laura J. d. July, i860. By Grace 
had Albert W. He is a merchandise broker in Boston ; 
lives in Waltham ; has been president of the Waltham 
Loan Association, trustee of the Waltham Savings 
bank, representative of the General Court three 
years, and senator two years. He has accumulated 
an ample fortune. 

Willard Randall — William — Abraham — m., 
March 23, 1829, Cyrene, dr. of George Aldrich 3d, of 
Smithfield ; first carried on cloth-dressing at Guinea, 
then lived on the Levi Mowry place ; removed to 
the Four corners, 1838, and has since carried on 
blacksmithing. Had George W., b. Sept. 6, 1830; 
Sarah O., b. Sept. 29, 1836, m. Jonathan C. Bryant; 
Pascal, b. May 10, 1844, d. 1846. Has been suc- 
cessively selectman and moderator, and also repre- 
sentative to General Court. 

Moses Randall — William — Abraham — ist m. 
Marietta Jenks ; 2d m. Betsey Walker; lived on the 
Nathan Bullock farm one year ; has been overseer in 
a factory at Woonsocket most of his life ; now resides 
in East Blackstone, on a farm. 



474 HISTORY OF THE 

William Randall — William — Abraham — m. 
Eliza Hatch; was overseer in a factor}^ ; lastly, lived 
in Franklin, and there d., iS8i. Had William H., b. 
1859. 

George W. Randall — Willard — William — Abra- 
ham - — m., Oct. 18, 1854, Hannah, dr. of Nicholas 
Cook ; lived in Troy ; removed to the Enos Hol- 
brook farm, where he now resides. Had Walter G., 
b. Aug. 20, 1856. 

Stephen L. Randall — David — Reuben — Abra- 
ham, m., April, 1852, Nancy, dr. of Silas Whipple; 
is a merchant in Keene. Had Ida E., b. Nov. 11, 
1853, m. Henry F. Holbrook, Dec. 31, 1873 ; Clara 
E., b. April 4, 1859; Eva M., b. June, 1864. 

RAWSON. 

Simeon Razuson, from Orange, 1787, bought the 
place where Daniel Cass and his son Jonathan lived ; 
removed from the place, about 1793, to some place on 
Whipple hill. 

Josiah Rawson^ son of Josiah Rawson, of War- 
wick, m. Sarah, dr. of Robert Buffum ; came to 
town, 1804; succeeded William Buffum in trade at 
the middle of the town. He removed to Richmond, 
Vt., and from thence went to Lenox, Madison Co., 
N. Y., where he d. May 8, 1861 ; she d. Feb. 6, 
1848. Had nine children. 

yonathan Razuson, son of Josiah Rawson, of War- 
wick, m., March 27, 1808, Lavina, dr. of Esek 
Buffum. He was the successor of his brother Josiah 
in the store at the middle of the town. He d. Dec. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 475 

24, 1843, aged 59; shed. Aug. 12, 1864, aged 77. 
Had three children, viz. : Alonzo, b. Feb. 2? 1809, 
removed to Louisville, Ky., and now lives in Chi- 
cago; Orrin, b. Oct. 25, 1812, was a merchant in 
Worcester and Boston, and finally removed to Ohio, 
and d. in Louisville, Ky. ; Angela, b. Aug. 23, 
1815, m. Uberto Bowen. 

RAYMER. 

yamcs Raywcr, b. Feb. 2, 1733, was f. s. on L. 6, 
R. 7, 1770; the place was west of Jonathan Cass'. 
He d. 1808. Had a son, James. No record of family. 

RAYNOLDS. 

Eli W. Raynolds, b. in Peacham, Vt., March i, 
1813, m. Louisa Hart. She d. 1864. He lives on 
the widow Howe place, at the Four corners. Had 
Sarah Jane> b. Nov. 22, 1841, m. Willard R. 
Graves; George F., b. May 22, 1843, d. in the war, 
1865: Mary Eliza, b. July 10, 1852, m. Albert E. 
Jillson, removed to Richmond from Swansey about 
1870. 

RAZEE. 

Joseph Razee was f. s. on L. 10, R. 5, the same 
being now a part of the farm of Amos Martin. Re- 
moved from town, 1777. Had eight children. 

READ. 

Daniel Read, from Smithfield, was f. s. on L. 15, 
R. 10, known as the Uriah Jillson or John Bennett 
farm. He removed to Swansey about 1784. Had 
by Lydia, his wife : Lydia, b. July 6, 1776. 

David Read, from Rehobath, probably a brother of 
Daniel, was f. s. on L. 17, R. 10, known as the 



476 HISTORY OF THE 

Elijah Bolles place. Had by Lydia, his wife : 
Rufus 0. May 31, 1778; Amy, b. July 26, 1780. 
Lie removed to Swansey about 1781. He m. Abi- 
gail Daggett for his second wife, and had several 
children. He d. 1819. 

Ajuos H. Read m., Nov. 24, 1819, Mary, dr. of 
Oliver Perry. He bought the Samuel Carpenter 
farm, known also as the South wick place, now 
owned by Ebenezer Cook, 1814. No record of 
family. He d. 1829 ; she d. Dec. 22, 1877, aged 80. 

RICH. 

Reuben Rich removed from Winchester to the Sol- 
omon Atherton farm, 1829. He made an exchange 
of farms with William Black, who had previously oc- 
cupied it. He m. Laura Lovell, a sister of Aldis 
Lovell,Esq., of Alstead. Had four children, viz. : 
Aldis L., removed to Mount Clemens, Mich. ; Lewis 
G., Caroline P., b. 1822, m. Rev. John Hunt, and 
Laura M., who died young. He d. Feb. 21, 1863, 
age 77 ; she d. Oct. 2, 1864, aged 68. 

Lewis G. Rich — Reuben — m. March 27, 1870. 
widow Barbara Spencer, dr. of Isquire Whipple. 
Lived on his father's place. Died, 1870, by suicide. 

RICE. 

Col. Henry Rice, b. in Providence, 1745, removed 
to Richmond, 1805, with his two children, Henry B., 
and Mary Ann. Lived on the Joseph Wing farm, 
known also as the Col. Jillson place. He d. Oct. 17, 
1820. His son d. previously ; his dr. m. Loomis, and 
went to Ct. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 477 

Henry Rice, a distant relative of Col. Rice, wasb. 
in Sudbury, April i6, 1770; m. Abigail Rice. He 
first settled in Barre, Mass., 1801, from thence re- 
moved to Cambridgeport, and finally to Richmond, 
1810. Lived with Col. Rice until his decease, and 
afterwards resided on the Bump place, and the farm 
recently owned by his son Henry. He d. July 14, 
1842 ; she d. April 26, 1846. Had Maria, b. Oct. 26, 
1802, m. Daniel Martin ; Henry, b. July 29, 1805 ; 
George G., b. Feb. 19, 1808, d. in Grafton; Martha 
W., b. Oct. 22, 1809, m. Israel Martin. 

Henry Rice, jr. — Henry — m., Dec. 13, 1832, 
Elizabeth, dr. of Robert Swan. Bought, 1830, the 
farm formerly owned by Gideon Man, jr., and there 
lived until June, 1882, when he removed to the Pick- 
ering place at the Four corners. She d. Dec. 9, 1881 . 
Had Abigail, b. Sept. 16, 1833, n^- Charles Colburn ; 
Denzil S., b. May 5, 1836, d. June 8, 1882 ; Henry 
H., b. Jan. 5, 1840, d. June 26, 1851 ; Caroline, b. 
June 30, 1845, d. Dec. 22, 1846; Amie Ann, b. Aug. 
31, 1848. 

ROBINSON. 

"John Robinson , (rom AtilGboYo', m. Huldah Newell, 
probably a sister of Joseph, sr. Was f. s. on L. 17, 
R. 8, known as the John Bolles farm, now owned by 
Mrs. Benjamin Bolles. Removed about 1783. Had 
Ezra, Mary, Sarah, Huldah, Peter, and Lucy. 

Timothy Robinson was f. s. on L. 2, R. 10, known 
as the Jared Ballou place, 1772. Removed from 
town about 1780. 

David Robinson, probably a son of John, m., Nov. 
18, 1807, Mary Fisher, sister of Laban Thornton's 



47^ HISTORY OF THE 

wife. He lived on L. 17, R. 7, north of the Ben. 
Newell place. Had Sarah, a no7i compos, and prob- 
ably some others. 

Harmon Robinson m., Jan. 29, 1826, Cyrintha 
dr. of Thompson Thayer. Had Laprelate, b. June 5 , 
1829; Fernando S.,b. Nov. 28, 1832. He came from 
Maine. 

ROPER. 

Charles Roper m. Charlotte, dr. of Nathaniel Naro- 
more. Was a blacksmith at the Four corners. She 
d. July 17, 1837. 

RUSSELL. 

David Russell, probably from Smithfield, m. Eliz- 
abeth Harris. Was f. s. on L. 14, R. 5, the lot west 
of Zimri Bowen's. Had eight children recorded. 
Removed to Mount Holly, Vt., 1790. 

SABEN. 

Israel Sahen, from Uxbridge, b. in Rehobath, 
Sept. 14, 1749, m. Beulah Albee, who was b. Sept. 
26, 1749. He came to town about 1783 ; lived a short 
time near Martin's mills, and then he bought L. 20, 
R. 10, the placenorth of the Elias Taylor farm ; built 
on the same a large two-story house, now gone. His 
son Alfred lived with him. He d. about 1827 ; she 
d. about 1826. Had thirteen children, viz. : Timothy, 
b. March 12, 1771, d. young; Chloe, b. Oct. 19, 
1772, m. Simeon Thayer, jr. ; Alfred, b. Jan. 15, 
1775 ; Lydia, b. Sept. 25, 1776, m. Jonathan Martin; 
Darling, b. Sept. 14, 1778 ; Mary, b. Nov. 18, 1780, 
m. Robert Martin ; Moses, b. Aug. 24, 1782, removed 
to Newfane, Vt. ; Elizabeth, b. April 4, 1784, m. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



479 



Robert Swan; Beulah, b. June ii, 1786, joined the 
Mormons; Lucy, b. April 4, 1788, m. Caleb Curtis; 
Israel, b. May 5, 1790? removed to Uxbridge ; Bene- 
dict, b. May 6, 1792, removed to Winchester; Amy, 
d. young. 

Alfred Sahcn — Israel — m. Zerviah Thayer, dr. of 
Dea. Simeon, Dec. 9, 1798. He settled on L. 20, 
R. 10, with his father, and was by trade a hatter. 
He d. May 9, 1845 ; she d. Aug. 8, 185 1. Children : 
Timothy, b. Aug. 30, 1800, m. Polly, dr. of Stephen 
Randall, d. July 19, 1878; Benjamin, b. Aug. i, 
1802, ist m. Almira Perrin, 2d m. Amy A. Hawkins, 
d. Jan, 25, 1870; Daniel, b. Sept. 2, 1804, m. Al- 
mina E., dr. of Maj. John Cass, d. Oct. 6, 1852 ; Bet- 
sey, b. Sept. 28, 1806, m. Alvin Scott, d. Aug. 18, 
1869; Augustus, b. Oct. 27, 1809, m. Augusta, dr. of 
Daniel Temple, d. Jan. 12, 1842 ; Louisa, b. Feb. 3, 
1812, d. Dec. 24, 1824 ; Simeon T., b. Jan. 16, 1815. 

Simeon Sahen — Alfred — Israel — m. Sarah, dr. 
of John Starkey, April, 1840. Blacksmith. No chil- 
dren. He lives in Gowanda, Cattaugus Co., N. Y. 

Darling Saben — Israel — ist m. Phebe Mowry ; 
2d m., Dec. 5, 1817, Hannah Shearman, dr. of Seth. 
Removed from Uxbridge, 1801 ; lived at Martin's 
mills from 1807 to 1813, when he removed to Win- 
chester. Had by Phebe : Mowry, b. Nov. 24, 1801 ; 
Lucy, b. Nov. 13, 1803, m. Levi Wheeler ; Sarah, b. 
Oct. 20, 1806, d. July I, 1832 ; Huldah, b. May 21, 
1809, d. Oct. 14, 1838; Israel, b. Sept. i, 1811, d. 
April 12, 1839; Ruth, b. April 13, 1814, d. April 24, 
1815. By Hannah had: Isaac, b. Dec. 30, 1818. 
Darling d. Sept. 23, 1822, aged 44; Phebe, his wife, 
d. Aug. 9, 1815, aged 35 ; Hannah d. Jan. 10, 1852. 



480 HISTORY OF THE 

Benedict Sabcn — Israel — m. Hannah Tvvitchell, 
of Winchester, March 29, 1818. He settled in Win- 
chester, near where his son, Daniel T. Saben, now 
resides. He d. Jan. 30, 1868; she d. Nov. 26, 1881. 

SALISBURY. 

William Salisbury was f. s. on L. 2, R. 4, the 
place since occupied by Otis W^hipple, Russell Bal- 
lon, and Jedediah Buftum, and now owned by Dennis 

Harkness. 

SCOTT. 

yohn Scott was f. s. on L. 18, R. i ; ist m. ; 

2d m. Joanna Brown, Nov. i, 1773; 3d m. Chloe 

Daniels, Jan. 6, 1805. The place of his settlement 

is now owned and occupied by Dexter Warren. Had 

by his first wife: Mar}', b. 1758, m. Moses Tyler, 

Esq. ; John ; Lemuel, b. Feb. 24, 1763, first white 

male child b. in Richmond; Luke; Susanna, m. 

Timothy Martin ; Jonathan. Record of the Scott 

family very imperfect. 

Lemuel Scott — John — m., Nov. 7, 1788, Abi- 
gail, dr. of Jonathan Cook ; lived on his father's 
place. He d. July 2, 1843, aged 80. Had Rachel, 
b. March 5, 1790; Lurana, b. Dec. 30, 1792; 
Lemuel, b. Oct. 24, 1794; John, b. March 16, 
1797; Abigail, b. Feb. 21, 1801, m. Dr. Darius 
Garnsey ; Alvan, b. Nov. 2, 1804. 

yohn Scott — John — m. Freelove . Had 

Mary, b. Sept. 3, 1784; Jonathan Boyden, b. Jan. 
5' 1787 ; James Harvey, b. July 2, 1788. 

Lzike Scott — John — m., Nov. 30, 1786, Chloe 
Darling ; lived on the Calvin White place. Had 
Joanna, b. March 18, 1788. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 48 1 

yonat/ian Scott — John — m., April 5, 1807, Sally, 
dr. of Nathaniel Bolles. 

yohn Scott — Lemuel — John — ist m., Nov. 23, 
1817, Mary, dr. of Cyrel Garnsey ; 2d m. Laura 
Wright, of Swansey. Lived on the Deacon Amos 
Garnsey place, and from thence removed to the 
Grindall Tha3'er farm. He d. Aug. 13, 1867 ; Mary 
d. Sept. 21, 1837. I^y Mary had Lurana, m. Capt. 
David Buftum ; John G., d. 1865; Mary Ann, m. 
Henry Starkey, jr., d. Oct., 1865. By Laura had 
Ellen C, m. William R. Hunt: Charles W., m. 
Mary E. Morse; Walter, d. 1864; Jane, d. Aug. 3, 
1861, aged 17. Laura, his wife, d. July 28, 1865, 
aged 59. 

Lemuel Scott — Lemuel — John — m., Dec. 2, 
1819, Rachel, dr. of Cyrel Garnsey ; lived on his 
father's place. He d. ; she d. Had Elvira, m. 
Elihu Field, lives in Iowa; Lemuel, Sarah A., never 
m. ; Alonzo, m. Lucy Jennings. 

Alvan Scott — Lemuel — John — m. Betsey, dr. of 
Alfred Saben, Dec. 24, 1826. His place was in the 
territory set off to Winchester, 1850. Had Louisa, 
b. Aug. 8, 1828, d. April 19, 1854; Oscar A., b. 
Nov. 2, 1830; Alzina E., b. Nov. 25, 1832; Arvilla 
A., b. March 15, 1836, d. Dec. 16, 1867; Warren 
W., b. Dec. 14, 1838, d. Dec. 10, 1855; Jennie J., 
b. Sept. 18, 1840, d. Nov. 11, 1872; Henry A., b. 
Dec. 8, 1843. Alvan d. Dec. 23, 1873 ; Betsey d. 
Aug. 18, 1869. 

yohn G. Scott — John — Lemuel — John — m., 
April 25, 1848, Eliza Ann, dr. of Calvin Bryant. 
He removed to Warwick, and afterwards went to 
31 



482 HISTORY OF THE 

Winchester. Had Edgar, George, Arthur, Alice, 
and Ellen. He d. Jan., 1865, and she 2d m. Fos- 
ter, of Keene. 

Lemuel Scott — Lemuel — Lemuel — John — m. 
Phebe Mallard, of Warwick ; removed to Warwick, 
and there kept a store. He died Sept. 29, 1858, 
aged 33. 

SHAFTER. 

'James Shaftcr lived in the north-west part of the 
town. The family removed to Athens, Vt. One of 
his sons was a judge of one of the Vermont courts. 
Had James, Prudence, m. Jeremiah Barrus ; Mary, 
m. Alles Thayer. 

SMEAD. 

"Joseph B. Smcad, from Swansey, m., Nov. 16, 
1842, Malvina, dr. of Simeon Cook; is a machinist, 
and resides in Fitchburg. 

SMITH. 

Holiab Smith m., Aug. 25, 1766, Lydia Ballon, of 
Gloucester, R. L, was f. s. on part of the farm after- 
wards owned by Jesse Ballou. 

Abicl L. Smith m. a daughter of Lemuel Taylor ; 
was a blacksmith at the Four corners, 1833 to 1835. 

Benjamin M. Smithy from near Concord, N. H., 
1862, bought the Seth Curtis farm. He lived there 
until his death, Jan. 4, 187 1. His family removed 
to Hinsdale. 

SNOW. 

Ivory Snozv settled on L. 3, R. 9, the place after- 
wards owned by Jos. Holbrook ; removed from tov/n 
about 1790. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 483 

SOUTHWICK. 

Enoch Southwick m., 1778, Mary Sweet. He re- 
moved from Berlin, 1801 ; bought the Samuel Car- 
penter farm, L. 14, R. 7, where he lived until 1814, 
when he removed to the Holland purchase, Golden, 
Erie Co., N. Y. Had Cynthia, b. June 17, 1779, m. 
John Bolles ; Nancy, b. Aug., 1780, m. Hosea 
Eddy; Betsey, b. Feb. 20, 1782, d. Oct. 7, 1851, m. 
George Harkness ; had also Abigail, Jesse, Stephen, 
Hannah, Mary, Amy, Elizabeth, Enoch, Iluldah, 
and Watson. 

Edinond B. Soiii/iwick, son of David Southwick, 
jr., of Berlin. He removed from Melrose, and 
bought the Dr. Parkhurst place, 1872, where he now 
resides; m. Abigail Green, of Stoneham, Oct. 12, 
1843. Had Abbie Jane, b. March 12, 1844; Elmira, 
E., b. Jan. 13, 1846; Mary C, b. July 21, 1847; 
Cynthia A., b. Oct. 8, 1849. 

yacob Southwick^ probably an elder brother of 
Enoch, lived in the Ballon neighborhood about 1789. 

SPAULDING. 

Daniel R. Spanlding, from Fitzwilliam, 1854, 
bought the old corner-store at the Four corners, and, 
in 1856, purchased the Quaker grounds adjoining, 
except the meeting-house and burial-ground ; con- 
tinued in trade until 1867, when he sold out the store 
business to Bryant & Wright, and removed to Fitz- 
william, 1869, and there d., 1874. ^^^ "^•' Oct. 17, 
i860, Mary E., dr. of Noah Adams, of Winchester. 
Had no children. His widow survives him, and lives 
in Fitzwilliam, and owns the store property at the 
Four corners. 



484 HISTORY OF THE 



SPENCER. 

Elisha S fencer m. Barbara, dr. of Isquire Whipple, 
jr. ; lived north of the Rufus Whipple place. Had 
three children d. in infancy. He d. March 5, 1854, 
and she 2d m. Lewis G. Rich. 

SPRAGUE. 

Ohediah Spragtte, b. in Providence, Aug. 22, 
1770, ist m. Betsey, b. 1764, dr. of Gideon Man, 
April 10, i%94 ; lived on the place now owned by his 
grandson, iiiram P. Sprague, in a house now gone, 
which was on the corner, where the old cellar-hole 
marks the spot. The farm was formerly known as 
the Cumstock place. His wdfe Betsey d. April 17, 
1815. He 2d m. widow Anna Goddard, sister of 
Thomas Mallard, of Warwick. He d. 1858, aged 88 ; 
Annad. March 2, 1848. Had by Betsey : Enoch and 
Hannah, b. Sept. 18, 1795, Hannah d. Aug. 17, 
1813 ; Samuel, b. Nov. 22, 1797 ; Sarah, b. Feb. 24, 
1799; Mercey, b. April 9, 1801, d. Sept. 4, 1805 ; 
Mercey, b. March 15, 1805, m. Grace Cass. By 
Anna had Nathaniel, b. Sept. 26, 1817, lives in 
Taunton; Obediah, b. April 19, 1819, d. Aug. 4, 
1826. 

Enoch Spragtie — Obediah — ist m, Alathear, dr. 
of Isquire Davis, of Royalston ; 2d m. Rebecca 
Williams, of Swansey, May 4, 1848. He lived in 
the house now occupied by Hiram. He d. Nov. 28, 
1864 ; Alathear d. March 4, 1847 ; Rebecca d. April 
26, 1872. Had Hannah, b. April 28, 1820, m. 
Jacob B. Perry, d. 1878; Prudence A., b. Nov. i, 
1821., m. Lysander Perry, d. 1866; Enoch D., b. 
July 15, 1823; Hiram P., b. Jan. i, [826; Asahel 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 485 

G., b. Oct. 12, 1830; Alathear M., b. Dec. 17, 
1834, "^' Ezekiel Nelson, jr. 

Samuel Sprague — Obediah — m. Melinda, dr. of 
Benjamin Kingman, of Winchester, Dec-i, 1822 ; 
lived on the place now occupied by Lysander Bal- 
lon ; removed to Winchester, 185-. He d. Sept. 28, 
1881 ; she d. Had Leander, b. June 4, 1824 ; 
Obediah, b. May 21, 1826; S. Angela, b. Jan. 25, 
1830, m. Darling S. Swan; M.Juliette, b. Oct. 11, 
1832. ist m. George B. Kelton, 2d m. J. W. Her- 
rick ; S. Henry, b. March 2, 1841, d. in the late 
war, Aug. 18, 1863. 

Enoch D. Sprague — Enoch — Obediah — ist m., 
March 27, 1849, Emily A. Chase, of Warwick; 2d 
m. widow Valeria M. Harris, Feb. 2, 1876. Emily 
d. 1864. He lives on the Thomas Goddard farm, 
the place first settled by David Cass. The original 
house is still standing, but not in very good repair. 
Had by Emily : Alathear, b. Jan. i, 1850; Edward 
A., b. July 27, 1851, d. 1874 '•> George L., b. June 2, 
1853 ; Linda M., b. Nov. 8, 1858 ; Maverette, b. Oct., 
i860; Almira, b. Sept. 25, 1862, d. 1864. 

Hira7n P. Sprague — Enoch — Obediah — ist m., 
March 31, 1853, Fanny C, dr. of John Colburn ; she 
d. Dec. 2, 1865 ; 2d m. Melinda, dr. of Edward 
Goddard, Jan. 31, 1867. Had by Fanny: Abbie J., 
b. Aug. II, 1854; Frank H., b. Oct. 4, 1862. By 
Melinda had William G., b. Jan. 24, 1870; Annetta, 
b. Oct. 17, 1873 ; Joseph L., b. Jan. 3, 1882. 

Asahel G. Sprague — Enoch — Obediah — m., 
Jan. 19, 1882, Mattie Capron. He is a machinist, 
and lives in Keene. 



486 HISTORY OF THE 

Leander Spraguc — Samuel — Obediah — m. Eliza- 
beth Wilson ; is a merchant in Fitchburg ; is one of 
the more wealthy and influential men of the cit}^ ; has 
been honored with various municipal offices, and has 
been representative to the General Court. 

Obediah S^ragne — Samuel — Obediah — is a 
manufacturer of woolen goods, and lives in West 
Swansey ; is considered a very enterprising and suc- 
cessful business man. He was m. a few years ago. 

"John Sfraguc was the f. s., 1767, on L. 9, R. 2, 
the Handy farm, now owned by George M. Bo wen. 

STARKEY. 

"Josef h Slarkey, brother of Peter, John, Benjamin, 
and Enoch, came from Attleborough about 1776. He 
m. Waitstill Morse, and was f. s. on L. 18, R. 2, the 
lot next north of Reuben Randall's. Removed, about 
1805, to the place formerly owned by Silas Aldrich. 
His brother Benjamin, who was unmarried, lived with 
him. Had six children, viz. : Martha, b. March 13, 
1779, m. Joseph Clark Davenport; Esther, b. June 
3, 1783, 1st m. Elijah Davenport, 2d m. Nahum Al- 
drich ; Waitstill, b. Jan. 17, 1787, m. Noah Aldrich ; 
Joseph, b. Sept. 27, 1790; Henry, b. Sept. i, 1795 ; 
Betsey, b. May, 1803, m. William Woodward. 

Josef h Stai'key,Jr. — Joseph — m., Feb. 20, 181 2, 
Lydia, dr. of Levi Aldrich. He lived with his father 
on the Silas Aldrich place. Removed to Penn., 
1845. Had five children, viz. : Lucy, Edwin, Levi, 
Sylvanus, and Henry. 

Col. Henry Star key — Joseph — m., Feb. 17, 1818, 
Lucy Woodward, dr. of Isaac, of Swansey. His 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 487 

place, while a resident of Richnioiid, was L. 22, R. 
4, first settled by George Cook, since occupied by 
David Martin, Nahum Cass, and others. He re- 
moved to Swansey, 1840, where he still resides, aged 
88. Had six children, viz. ; John W., b. Dec. 18, 
1818, d. Jan. 25, 1876; Alvin, b. Dec. 27, 1821, d. 
June 27, 1882; Henry, b. Jan. 27, 1824; Joseph, b. 
June 28, 1826, d. Feb. 15, 1865 ; Lucy, b. April 17, 
1829, m. Cyrenus Taft ; William W., b. Dec. 12, 
1839. 

John W. Starkey — Henry — Joseph — m. Diancy, 
dr. of Calvin Bryant. Was proprietor of City Hotel, 
in Keene. Had Mary E., b. April 28, 1844; Emma 
L., b. May 21, 1850. 

Alvin Starkey — Henry — Joseph — ist m. Ma- 
rinda, dr. of Jacob Sweet ; she d. 1846. Was a dealer 
in staves and shooks. Had Emma M., Marinda, d. 
2d m, Caroline Buftum, 1848. Removed to Buttalo, 
N. Y. 

Henry Starkey ^ jr. — Henry — Joseph — m., Nov. 
16, 1848, Mary Ann, dr. of John Scott. Had Frank 
H., b. Feb. 8, 1850; Ella M., b. May, 1852 ; Myrtie 
B., b. Nov., 1863. 

Joseph Starkey — Henry — Joseph — m. Fann}^ 
dr. of Joseph Buftum. Had Lucy F., b. Oct. 22, 
1845 ; Henry M., b. Dec. 27, 1846; Angelia M., b. 
March 3, 1849 ; Juliette M., b. Oct. 23, 1850; Geor- 
giana, b. Aug. 31, 1852; Joseph L., b. Oct. 17, 
1854 5 James B., b. May 23, 1857. She d. March 24, 
i860. 

John Starkey^ son of Peter, who was son of Peter, 
the brother of Joseph, from Attleboro', m., Aug. 20, 



488 HISTORY OF THE 

1812, Sarah, dr. of John Cass, jr. Removed from 
Troy, 1823. He lived on the John Cass farm, now 
owned by Asa H. Bullock; 2d m. widow Adaline 
Cheney, April 16, 1854. He d. April 8, 1869, aged 
80; Sarah d. Sept. 16, 1852, aged 62. Had by 
Sarah, Mary Ann, b. March 30, 1813, d. Feb. 8, 
1836 ; Orrin, b. June 15, 1814 ; Otis, b. Oct. 26, 1815, 
d. Feb. 8, 1836 ; Edson, b. July 22, 1817 ; Sarah Ann, 
b. Nov. 18, 1818, m. Simeon Saben ; Lydia, b. Oct. 
II, 1821, m. Sanford Garnsey ; Keziah, b. April 3, 
1823 ; John, b. May 20, 1825 ; Calvin, b. May 29, 
1827 ; Andrew J., b. July 4, 1829. 

Orrin Starkey — John — ist m. Asenath C, dr. of 
Luke Harris. She d. Aug. 23, 1843, aged 21 ; 2d 
m. Nov. 3, 1844, Sarah O. Stoddard, of Chesterfield. 
She was b. Sept. 5, 1818. Had by Asenath: Orrin 
M., b. Aug. 23, 1843, d. Sept. 1843. Had by Sarah 
O. : Edward H., b. Feb. 14, 1846, d. Nov. 18, 1S49; 
Ella R., b. Sept. 22, 1848; Addie M.,b. Jan. 10, 
1851 ; Ida L., b. Aug. 17, 1854; Charlie W., b. July 
27, 1858. Addie m. Albert W. Metcalf, and Ida m. 
Edwin R. Jerould. Mr. Starkey is a carpenter, and 
lives in Keene. 

Edson Starkey — John — m., Jan. 23, 1840, Si- 
lence, dr. of Levi Randall. Lives on the James Buf- 
fum place, and is by trade a carpenter. Had Lyman 
R., b. March 13, 1840; Marion, b. Jul}^ 16, 1843, m. 
Julius M. Whipple; Edson O., b. July 22, 1846; 
Sarah, b. May 20, 1850, m. Almon Twitchell. 

yohn Starkey^ jr. — John — m., April 28, 1853, 
Clara M., dr. of Abner Barden. Was a carpenter; 
enlisted in Company F, 6th Reg. N. H. volunteers, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 4S9 

and died Aug. 29, 1862, of a wound received in the 
service. Had two children, viz. : Emma J., b. Aug. 
21, 1855, ^- Danford W. Martin ; Flora L., b. Aug. 
4, 1861, d. 

Andrc-za y. Starkcy — John — m. Mary Brigham, 
of Templeton ; lived on the Corey place a while, and 
kept all of the town's poor. Had James, d. ; Otis, 
John, Willie, and Lydia. He and his wife are both 
dead. 

Lyman Starkey^ son of Edson, m. Mary E., dr. of 
Ebenezer Swan ; lives in Fitchburg ; has three chil- 
dren. 

Edson O. Starkcy, son of Edson, m. Nancy, dr. 
of Ebenezer Swan ; lives on the Levin Aldrich farm. 
No children. 

Samuel Starhcy — Samuel — Enoch — of Troy, 
m., March 20, 181 1, Thankful, dr. of Nathaniel 
Bolles. Had eleven children, one of whom, Emily, 
b. May 29, 1817, m. Benjamin Bolles, and is still 
living in town. He d. April 30* 1865, aged 78 ; she 
d. June 25, 1872, aged 82. 

STREETER. 

yoseph Strcetcr bought of Caleb Arnold the farm 
known as the Bisbee place, i777» ^o^^' owned by 
Abner S. Barden. No record of family. He re- 
moved from town about 1805. 

Ezekicl Strcetcr m., Aug. 27, 1803. Urania, dr. of 
Silas Ballou ; lived at various places in town. Had 
Levi, b. Jul}-^ 10, 1804; Hannah, b. Dec. 21, 1805, 
m. Ephraim Bennett; and Lucian. 



490 HISTORY OF THE 

Barzillai Strecter, b. in England, came to Cam- 
bridge in 1640, from thence to Cumberland, thence 
to Chesterfield, and thence to Richmond, and finally 
removed to Swansey. Remained in town a short 
time. He was the father of Rev. Sebastian and Rev. 
Russell Streeter. 

ST. CLAIR. 

Col. Winth7'o-p St. Clair., from Concord, N. H., 
about 1864, bought the Capt. Oliver Capron farm. 
Had Winthrop, Charles, and Frank P. The family 
live in Winchester. He d. June 15, 1874, ^ged 72. 

STODDARD. 

Elijah Stoddard was f. s. on L. 14, R. 10. The 
place was on a road long since discontinued, running 
from the road near the Levi Randall place west- 
wardly to near the old Holbrook house. Saul Job, 
and some others, lived there afterwards. Had five 
children. 

SWAN. 

Dr. Ehenezcr Swan, from Attleboro', 1776, m., 
Feb. 15, 1778, Tamasin, dr. of James Ballou. He 
bought of Benjamin White, 1785, L. 14, R. 6. The 
place has remained in the family name until quite 
recently. He d. March 18, 1820, aged 70; shed. 
Jan. 31, 1842, aged 82. Had eight children, viz. : 
Ebenezer, b. July 19, 1779; Robert, b. Nov. 29, 
1781 ; Tamasin, m. Jonathan Cass ; James, b. April 
8, 1785, d. ; Mary, b. Sept. 9, 1788, m. Jonah 
Walker; Lois, m. Ellis Thayer; Nancy, b. Feb. 20, 
1795, m. Abner Barden ; Hannah, b. 1797, m. 
Stephen Buftum ; Ballou, b. Nov. 20, 1799. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 49I 

3fajor Ebcnczcr Szuan — Ebenezer — m., Sept. 
16, 1798, Esther, dr. of Daniel Man ; lived on the 
Asa Man place until about 1820, when he removed 
to the old homestead. He d. of apoplexy, while 
attending services at the Universalist church, Oct. 
18, 1840; she d. Aug. 12, 1848. Had Annie, b. 
Jan. 26, 1799; Esther, b. April 20, 1801 ; James, b. 
March 3, 1803; Ebenezer, b. Jul}^ i, 1809; Obe- 
diah S. ; Joseph, b. Dec. 11, 1815 ; Daniel, lives in 
I5oston. 

Robert Swmi — Ebenezer — m., Dec. 27, 1802, 
Elizabeth, dr. of Israel Saben ; lived on the Royal 
Aldrich farm, and thence removed to the Thomas 
Crane place, and finally removed to Winchester, 
1838. He d. Feb. 9, 1861, aged 80; she d. July 23, 
1846, aged 62. Had nine children, viz. : Robert, b. 
1803 ; Ebenezer, b. 1807 ; Elizabeth, b. Feb. 22, 
1805, m. Henry Rice ; Ambrose, b. 1808; Almerine, 
b. Nov. 29, 1810, m. Elon Capron ; Denzel, b. 1815, 
d. Sept. 15, 1837, aged 21 ; Henry, b. 1819 ; Amy, 
b. April I, 1817, m. Asa Bullock; Darling S., b. 
1825. He 2d m. Zerviah, widow of Alfred Saben, 
who d. Aug. 8, 1857, aged 81. 

Ballon Swan — Ebenezer — m., Sept. 21, 1817, 
Lucy, dr. of Robert Bufium ; lived on the Asa Man 
place; removed to the Four corners, 1833, and 
thence to Townsend, Vt., where he still resides. 
Lucy d. Dec. 9, 1854, ^^cd 55. Had Elliot, b. 
March 9, 1819 ; Fisk, b. 1821, d. Nov. 13, 1837; 
infant, d. ; Fiducia, b. 1825, m. L. IL Morton, d. 
Nov. 17, i860 ; Rocepha, b. 1831, m. E. Hubbard, 
d. Nov. 23, 1854; Retsey A., b. March 19, 1835; 
Frank F., b. Feb. 8, 184 1. 



492 HISTORY OF THE 

y antes Swan — Ebenezer — Ebenezer — m., Nov. 
15, 1829, Alvira, dr. of Robert Martin; lived on the 
Dillingham place. Had five children, viz. : Esther, 
b. Au^. 7, 1837, m. A. H. Atherton ; Lucy, b. Feb. 
I, 1842, d. Aug. 4, 1861 ; three others d. young. 
He d. Dec. 6, 1879; she d. Sept. 30, 1867. 

Ehcnczcr Swan — Ebenezer — Ebenezer — ist m. 
Mary, dr. of Robert Martin ; lived on the old home- 
stead. Had by Mary: Mary E., b. Feb. 12, 1840, 
m. Lyman Starkey ; Melissa J., b. April 23, 1842, 
m. Jerahmeel Allen ; Nancy A., b. July 24, 1847, m. 
Edson Starkey, jr. He d. Dec. 23, 1874; she d. 
June 24, 1866. He 2d m., March 28, 1867, Roxana, 
dr. of Geo. Martin, jr. By Roxana had Ebenezer, 
b. June 7, 1867. 

Joseph Szuan — Ebenezer — Ebenezer — m. Irene, 
dr. of Richard Weeks; lives on the west part of L. 
15, R. 4, first settled by Jonathan Cass. Had Lydia 
M., b. March 20, 1840, m. Charles H. Wheeler, son 
of Jesse G. Wheeler, who was b. July, 1838, d. April 
15, 1865. 

Ohediah S. Szvan — Ebenezer — Ebenezer — m . 
Randilla, dr. of Richard Weeks ; lived on the David 
Russell place ; removed about 1867 to the Gideon 
Man place, at the Four corners. Had no children. 
She d. Jan. 6, 1875. 

Robert Swan — Robert — Ebenezer — m. , April 
19, 1829, Vienna, dr. of Levin Aldrich ; removed to 
Winchester, and there d. Dec. 20, 1836. 

Ehenezc7- Szuan — Robert — Ebenezer — m., Jan. 
15, 1835, Loanza, dr. of Luke Harris; lived on the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 493 

Crane place ; thence removed to the Stephen Buffum 
farm, and finally went to Winchester. Had by 
Loanza : Loanza, b. April 25, 1837; Susanna, b. 
Jan. 15, 1839, ^- ^^595 Elizabeth, b. May 18, 1841 ; 
Asenath, b. Dec. i, 1843. He 2d m. Hannah, dr. 
of Townsend Parker, Nov. 11, 1852. Had by Han- 
nah: Robert and Lydia. He d. Nov., 1882, aged 
76; Loanza, his wife, d. Oct. 3, 1851, aged 42. 

Ambrose Swan — Robert — Ebenezer — m. Irene, 
dr. of Alpheus Capron ; removed to Winchester. 
He d. May 10, 1874, aged 66 ; she d. Oct. 29, 1869, 
agscl 57. Had Ambrose W., Catherine, Marian, 
Julia A., and Denzel. 

Henry B. Swan — Robert — Ebenezer — ist m. , 
Nov. 8, 1846, Dulcena, dr. of Daniel Twitchell. 
She d. April 23, 1848; 2d m. Eliza A. Howard. 
He is a dealer in palm-leaf in Winchester. Had 
Fred. H., b. Feb. 2, 1852; Ida M., b. 1855; Dora 
E., b. 1859; Jennie F., b. 1861 ; Charles, d. 1884; 
Myrtie; Willie H., b. Oct., 1868. 

Darling S. Swan — Robert — Ebenezer — m., Jan. 
3, 1850, S. Angela, dr. of Samuel Sprague ; lives in 
Winchester. Had Ella M., b. June 29, 1852, m. A. 
M. Burbank; Etta A., b. May 2, 1858, m. J. P. 
Felch; Henry E., b. Jan. 15, 1868. 

Elliot Szvan — Ballon — Ebenezer — went to Wor- 
cester, Mass., about 1840, and was employed by 
Genery Twitchell in driving the stage from Worces- 
ter to Brattleboro'. He continued in the business 
until the route was given up. He afterwards kept a 
hotel in Worcester ten years or more, and then retired 
to a farm situated near the new lunatic asvlum. He 



494 HISTORY OF THE 

m. Miss Thompson, of New Salem, and has two 
daughters, both m. ; one lives in Colorado, and the 
other in Worcester. 

SWEET. 

'Jonathan Szvect, probably from Smithfield, 1762, 
m. Amy, dr. of James Brown ; was f. s. on L. 9, R, 
3, the place now occupied by Joseph Whitcomb. He 
built the house still standing on the premises. Had 
Anthony, b. Oct. 10, 1756; Lydia, b. Nov. 20, 
1758, m. Daniel Cass, jr. ; Richard, b. March 9, 
1761 ; Jonathan, b. Feb. 8, 1763 ; Amy, b. Nov. 8, 
1766, m. Mordica Cass; Elizabeth, b. April 13, 
1769, m. John Harkness ; Mary, b. April 13, 1769, 
twin sister to Elizabeth, m. Peter Starkey ; Abigail, 
b. Jan. 17, 1772, m. William Boorn ; Hannah, m. 
Barnard Swift. He d. Sept., 1794. 

Anthony Sweet — Jonathan — m., Nov. 22, 1780, 
Elizabeth, dr. of Paul Handy; was f. s. on L. 11, 
R. I, known as the Jacob Whitcomb place, and now 
owned by Sidney B. Bowen. Had Phillis, b. June 
28, i';;^83, ist m. Alpheus Grant, 2d m. Jacob Whit- 
comb. He d. 1822. 

Richard Szucet — Jonathan — m., Nov. 30, 1786, 
Lovina, dr. of Jacob Bump. Had Dinah, b. April 
12, 1787, d. Oct. 13, 179s ; Jacob, b. Jan. 25, 1789. 
He d. about 1804. His widow 2d m. Nathan Bowen, 
sr. 

Jonathan Stveet — Jonathan — m., June 6, 1784, 
Jerusha Jillson, probably a daughter of Captain 
Stephen ; lived on his father's place. He d. 1814 ; 
she d. 1823. Had Jacob, b. March i, 1786; James, 
b. Feb. II, 1788; Jonathan, b. Nov. 20, 1789; Zil- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 495 

pah, b. April i, 1792, m. Paul Jillson ; Richard, b. 
Feb. 16, 1794; Benjamin, b. Feb. 27, 1796; Mary, 
b. Feb. 13, 1798; Anthony, b. April 26, 1800; Ste- 
phen, b. Aug. I, 1802; GeorgeC^b. Jan. i, 1805; 
Silas, b. July 5, 1807 ; Hannah, b. June 7, 1813, m. 
Ferdinand Whipple. Most of the children went to 
Rhode Island. , 

Caj>t. 'Jacob Szvcct — Jonathan — Jonathan — ist 
m.,Jan. 29, 1809, Hannah, dr. of William Weeks ; 
lived where John L. Carpenter now resides ; 2d m. 
Lovisa, dr. of Capt. Dan. Whipple, Jan. 19, 1834. ^^ 
removed to Winchester, and there d. ; Hannah d. Jan. 
20, 1833, aged 43 ; Lovisa d. March 12, 1862. Had 
by Hannah : Diancy, b. Feb. 28, 1810, m. Newton 
Man; James, b. April 19, 1813 ; Polly, b. July 10, 
1815, m. Ebenezer Barrus ; Martha Marilla, b. May 
16, 1820; Marinda, b. Nov. 10, 1821, m. Alvin 
Starkey ; Betsey, b. March 11, 1823, m. Ebenezer 
Barrus. Betsey is the only one now living. 

jfa))ics Szvcct — Jacob — Jonathan — Jonathan — 
m. Mary Ann Shepherd, of Warwick and grand- 
daughter of Caleb Weeks. Had one son, who lives 
in Granby, Ct. He survived his wife some years, 
and finally d. with his son in Granby. He was en- 
gaged in the livery business in Worcester, Hartford, 
and other places. 

SWEETZER. 

Philip Szvectzcr. Kept store, about 1810, at the 
Crooker place. 

SWIFT. 

Samuel Szvift m. Chloe ; lived east of Jesse 

Ballou's. He d. 1797. Had David, Barnabas, 



496 HISTORY OK THE 

Samuel, Levi, Calvin, Luther, Rose, Dolly, Abigail, 
and Chloe. 

Samuel Swifts jr.., m. Anna Wing, 1799. 

TAFT. 

Silas Ta/t, son of Stephen and Mary Taft, b. June 

10, 1744, ist m. Farnum, 2d m. Twitchell. He came 
from Uxbridge, 1776, and purchased L. 12, R. 10, 
a lot that had been occupied by Joseph Monroe. This 
farm is known as the Peleg Taft place. The build- 
ings are now gone, and the land is used for pasture 
and growing wood. He d. about 181 1. Children 
by tirst wife : Ephraim, Moses, Levi, Preserved, Dari- 
us, Rachel, Peleg. 

JEph?'aim Taft — Silas — ist m. Abigail Brown, 2d 
m. widow Sarah Taft, of Swansey, March 12, 1807. 
He settled on L. 20, R. 9, the one next north of Jo. 
Butium's place, where Benjamin Newell once lived. 
He removed to Winchester about 1800. Children : 
David, b. March 9, 1776, d. Sept. 15, 1777 ; Brown, 
b. Aug. 2, 1778; Hannah, b. April 3, 1781 ; Rufus, 
b. Nov. 10, 1783, m. Catherine Newell, dr. of Joseph, 
March 10, 1807 ; Zadoc, b. Sept. 12, 1786; Ephraim, 
b. Feb. II, 1789, d. June 7, 1789; Abigail, b. Oct. 

11, 1790, d. Jan. 29, 1792 ; George, b. Dec. 4, 1786. 

Moses Taft — Silas — m. Anna Cook, Nov. 13, 
1777. Children: Moses, b. March 6, 1778; Silas, 
b. June 28, 1779. 

Preserved Taft — Silas — m. Anna Benson, Jan. 
9, 1800. 

Darius Taft — Silas — m. Sarah Ingalls, dr. of 
Edmond, May 4, 17S5. He lived on part of the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 497 

David Holbrook place a few years, but died at his 
father's. 

Peleg Taft — Silas — m. Susanna Man, dr. of 
Abraham, Nov. 5, 1788. He was b. in Uxbridge, 
April 19, 1769, and d. in Richmond, Feb. 10, 1855, 
aged 85 years ; she wasb. Dec. 18, 1768, d. Jan. 20, 
1855, aged 87 years. He lived on his father's place. 
Had four children : Mary, b. June 10, 1789, m. Uriah 
Jillson, of Cumberland; Lucy, b. Nov. 12, 1790, d. 
Nov. 8, 1820, unmarried ; Susanna, b. Jan. 20, i794' 
m. Nathan Jillson, of Cumberland ; Peleg, b. July 30, 

1795- 

Pclcg 7>z/?,yr.— Peleg — Silas — m. Polly Potter 
Cass, dr. of Major John Cass, Jan. i, 1822. He re- 
sided on the old homestead at first, afterwards he 
bought the Zimri Ingalls place, where he lived a few 
years ; from thence he removed, with his son-in-law, 
Amos G. Bennett, to the Four corners, and finally 
went to West Swansey, 1879. ^^^ ^^'^'^ children, viz. : 
Cyrenus, b. Aug. 19, 1823 ; Almina Clarissa, b. Jan. 
22, 1828, m. Amos G. Bennett. 

■■'> Tnff son of Peleg, jr., m. Lucy A. Star- 
enry. Had Walton H., b. Sept. 26, 

■^-j/, '^^■ /^^ ;. iness in Michigan, and a daughter 
who uitJ i )■ mcy. Cyrenus was instantly killed 
by the falling hmb of a tree, Feb. 5, 1864. 

Brown Taft — Ephraim — Silas — m. Urania Al- 
drich, Jan. 29, 1799. Children : Ephraim, Brown S. 
B., and Harrison. 

Brown S.B. Taft ist m., 1848, Ruth, dr. of Cyrus 
Bassett. He lived with Jacob Boyce on the Benson 
place. She d. June 6, 1850, aged 39; 2d m. widow 
of James M. Harris, and has removed to Swansey. 
33 



498 HISTORY OF THK 

E-phraim Toft, son of Brown, m. Mary, dr. of Al- 
pheus Grant. Had Ephraim, b. 1830, d. Aug. 28, 
1853, aged 23. 

Harrison Toft, son of Brown, m. Lois, dr. of Jesse 
Bishop. Removed to Swansey. Had several chil- 
dren. No record. 

foseph JV. Toft — Rufus — Ephraim — Silas — 
came into town about 1844. Bought the old Jonathan 
Thurber place. He removed the old house built for 
a hotel, and erected the new house now on the prem- 
ises. He removed to Minnesota, and there died. 

E-phraim F. Taft, son of Rufus, of Winchester, 
m. Juda Ann, dr. of Moses Tyler. Lives in Keene. 
Has four children, viz. : Loren F., Warren, Abbie, 
and Maud. 

Zadoc Toft — Ephraim — Silas — removed from 
Swansey to the farm formerly occupied by William 
Woodward, 1847. Was a blacksmith. Had one dr. 
Louisa, lives in Keene. He d. Aug. 15, 1867, aged 
80; she d. April 12, 1867, aged 81. 

Nathaniel Taft^ a cousin of Silas Taft, came from 
Uxbridge and settled on L. 13, R. 6, the place now 
owned by David B. Aldrich. He built the house now 
standing on the premises, 1788. ist m. Hannah 
Cass, dr. of Daniel, by whom he had six children : 
Daniel, b. Dec. 21, 1768; David, b. Aug. 3, 1770; 
Nathaniel, b. April 18, 1772 ; Hannah, b. March 3, 
1774, d. May 28, 1781 ; Sarah, b. Feb. 4, 1779, m. 
Caleb Weeks; Marcy, b. April 18, 1781. 2d m. 
Pecey Randall, July 26, 1790, by whom he had four 
children : Mary, m. Royal Ormsby ; Stephen, b. May 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



499 



lo, 1792, m. Vienna Harris, Sept. 17, 1815 ; Lydia ; 
Rufus, b. Oct. 20, 1797. He d. 1820. 

TAYLOR. 

Elias Taylor, son of Ebenezer Taylor, of Winches- 
ter, b. 1778, m., Feb. 13, 1805, Lydia, dr. of George 
Buftum ; lived on the farm settled by Nehemiah 
Thayer, L. 19, R. 10, the place now owned by 
Mrs. Sarah D. Ballon. He d. July 25, 1862, aged 84 ; 
she d. Sept. 6, 1853, aged 73 years. Had Jedediah 
B., b. May 14, 1805, killed while felling a tree, 
Feb. 16, 1826; George, b. May 9, 1807; Wins- 
low, b. May 24, 1809 ; Candace and Caroline, b. Oct. 
14, 1812 ; Ebenezer, b. Oct. 4, 1814, died in Troy, 
N. Y., 1875 '■> Deliverance, b. Oct. 19, 1816, m. Cal- 
vin Coombs ; she d. Feb. 26, 1876 ; Martin, b. May 
4, 1818, lives in Richmond, Minn. ; Sumner P., b. 
Oct. 4, 1820; Lucius, b. May i, 1822, d. April 8, 
1874; Calvin, b. June 22, 1826. 

George Taylor — Elias — m., Nov. 15, 1832, Lu- 
rana Harris of Swansey ; lives on the Jeremiah Thayer 
'irni, L. i^, R. io. Had George H., b. Sept. 30, 
1836 ; Lyaia E., b. March 23, 1838, d. Sept. 6, 1853 ; 
Franc!" M., b. July 27, 1840; Loren L., b. Jan. 24, 
1843 ; Jennie C.,b. Feb. 25, 1845 ; Emma L., b. May 
28, 1847, d. Aug. 8, 1864; Charles E., b. March 30, 
1850; Maria L., b. May 31, 1852; Charles W., b. 
April 2, 1858. Charles E. and Maria L. were killed 
by a falling cart-body, Sept. i, 1856. 

Winslow Taylor — Elias — m. Mary, dr. of Jerah- 
meel Allen, Oct. 15, 1838. Had William and Orrin. 
He removed to Tio<{a Co., Penn. 



500 HISTORY OF THE 

Ebcnczc7- Taylor — Elias — m. Maria, dr. of Hollis 
Naromore. They separated. 

Sumner P. Taylor — Elias — m. Sarah D. Newell, 
of Troy ; lived on his father's place. He d. Nov. 19, 
1866. Had Sarah E., Eliza J., Francis N., Sumner 
W., Ellen M., infant, Elmer E., Sumner. Francis 
N. was killed with George's two children, Sept. i, 
1856. These all d. before arriving at maturity. 

George H. Taylor — George — Elias — ist m. Mary 
A. Palmer, of Lyme,. N. H., March 3, 1864, she d. 
June 24, 1876 ; 2d m. Emma J. Hovey, of Swansey, 
Nov. 19, 1878 ; lives on the Jos. R. Buftum place. Had 
by Mary A. : Wesley M., b. June 27, 1865, d. Oct. 

8, 1866; Medora L., b. April 27, 1867 ; Rosetta L., 
b. Jan. 30, 1871, d. May 18, 1876; Royal P., b. 
May 5, 1876. Had by Emma J. : Blanche E., b. 
May 30. 1880. 

Loren L. Taylor — George — Elias — ist m. Mary 
Jewell, she died; 2d m. Nellie Long, Feb., 1873; 
lives on the Elias Taylor place. By Mary had Emma 
E., b. March, 1865; Francis H., b. Sept., 1867; 
three d. in infancy. By Nellie had Mary A., b. May 

9, 1875 ; Gracie E., b. April 29, 1878. 

Charles W. Taylor — George — Elias — m. Julia, 
dr. of Lucius Naromore, July 3, 1876. Lives with 
his father. Had one d. in infancy ; Earle C, b. June 
30, 1879. 

Cyrus Taylor, from Winchester, m. Rachel Blais- 
dell. She d. July, 1863. Lived on the Luke Scott 
place. He d. Feb. 5, 1864. Had no children. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 5OI 

Ehcnezcr Taylor m. Eunice . Lived on the 

John Hale place, west of Elias'. Had eight children. 
He d. about 1858 ; she d. Feb., 1843. 

TEMPLE. 

Daniel Tetnplc, from Warwick, m. Hannah Wood- 
cock. He lived on the Caleb Curtis place, L. 20, R. 
9. Had Caleb, Susan, Eleanor, Horace, Augusta, 
in. Augustus Saben ; Hannah, m. Jesse Bolles ; and 
Samuel. He d. 1835 5 she d. 1847. Mrs. Bolles is 
the only one now living. 

TENNEY. 

Edwin P. Tcnncy, from Marlboro', m. Chloe, dr. 
of Ichabod Whipple. Was a shoemaker. Came to 
the Four comers, 183 1. Removed to Winchester, 
1833, where he still resides. 

TOLMAN. 

Edward Tolnian, from TrQ|% m., Nov. i, 1834, 
Nicene, dr. of Anthony Corey. Lived first in Troy ; 
'. ■ le to town, 1845, and bought the Paul Jillson farm. 

J d. Oct. 26, 1852. Had six children, two of whom 
live in town, viz. : Henry E., b. July 18, 1844 ; Abbie 
E., b. Jan. 14, 1847 ; and Alfred, who was an elder 
son, m. Jane, dr. of Esek Bufium, was shot at Keene, 
Nov. 22, 1864, aged 24, Jane d. by suicide Jan. 2, 
1865. 

Henry E. Tolman — Edward — m., Dec. 24, 1871, 
Clara, dr. of Curtis Parker. Lives in the Roswell 
Weeks house. Had Edward P., b. Aug. 10, 1874; 
Christine E., b. July 4, 1876, d. in infancy ; Maurice 
D., b. June 27, 1878; Adele L., b. Oct. 23, 1880; 
Harry A., b. May 2, 1883. 



502 HISTORY OF THE 

THAYER. 

Richard -And Thomas Thayer came from Essex Co., 
England, about eighteen miles north of London, in 
1630, and then settled in Braintree, Mass. From 
them have descended the three original families of 
Thayers that settled in Richmond, viz. : Jeremiah, 
Simeon, and Grindall. 

yeremtah Thayer, son of Ebenezer and Sarah, of 
Bellingham, m. Alice Holbrook, April 21, 1747. He 
and his wife and his nine children, viz. : Caleb, Jere- 
miah, Allis, Nehemiah, Lydia, Rhoda, Hamlet, Com- 
fort, and Nathan, settled in the north-west part of 
Richmond. The father lived with his son Jeremiah, 
on L. 18, R. 10, the place now owned and occupied 
by George Taylor. 

Caleb Thayer — Jeremiah — m., April 28, 1774, 
Susanna Threshire. Had Levi, b. Feb. 19, i775 ' 
Sarah, b. 1776. He enlisted in the army of the Rev- 
olution, 1777, and di^d in the service, 1778- 

yeremtah Thayer, Jr. — Jeremiah — ist m. Anna 
Page, Jan. 13, 1772 ; 2d m. widow Elizabeth Man, 
dr. of Caleb Cook. Had by Anna: Asa, b. Oct. 11, 
1772 ; Caleb, b. April 9, 1778 ; Ellis, b.Sept. 3,^1788. 

Allis Thayer — Jeremiah — m , March 15, i774' 
Mary Shafter. Was f. s. on L. 20, R. 11. Re- 
moved to Washington Co., Vt., about 1781. Had 
two children, Susanna and Hannah. 

Nehemiah Thayer — Jeremiah — m., Jan. 26, 1780, 
Hannah Peters. Was f. s. on west half of Lots 18 
and 19, R. 10, known as the Elias Taylor place ; he 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 503 

removed to Putney, V^t., about 1785. Had one son, 
Ebenezer, b. Jan. 15, 1781. 

Asa Thayer — Jeremiah — Jeremiah — m., Jan. 
28, 1796, Chloe Robinson. Lived west of Elias Tay- 
lor's. Had Jeremiah, b. Sept. 12, 1796; Phebe, b. 
Oct. 4, 1798, m. Oliver Puffer; Lucy, b. Feb. 24, 
1803; Asa, b. Sept. 14, 1806; Chloe, b. Aug. 15, 
1808, m. Nelson Thayer; Anna, b. Sept. 4, 1813, m. 
Ethan Thayer; Lona, b, Aug. 15, 1819, m. Benj. 
Aldrich. He d. Nov. 17, 1844, aged 72 ; she d. April 
30, i860, aged 86. 

Caleb Thayer — Jeremiah — Jeremiah — m., April 
21, 1803, Susanna Marble, of Winchester. He lived 
on the home place. No record. 

Ellis Thayer — Jeremiah — Jeremiah — ist m., 
Jan. 20, 1811, Lois, dr. of Dr. Ebenezer Swan; she 
d. Oct. II, 1828; 2d m. Dellia, dr. of Benjamin Man. 
He lived on his father's place, and by Lois had : Nel- 
son, b. Jan. 18, 1812 ; Lois, b. Aug. 8, 1814, m. Alan- 
son B. Thayer; Andrew J., b. Aug. 7, 1817 ; Le- 
ander, b. Oct. 11, 1819, d. March, 1822 ; Galinas, b. 
V _ r3, 1821 ; P. Loinel, b. March 15, 1823, m. 
\'ath:in Cutler, of Woodford, Vt., d. April 17, 1844. 
By Dellia had Ettarista E., b. Nov. 22, 1834, d- April 
I, 1854 5 Alvarus L., b. Nov. 31, 1836. Dellia d. Feb. 
8, 1854, ^g^<^ 54- H^ ^- ''ibout 1875. 

yeremiah Thayer — Asa — Jeremiah — Jeremiah 
— m. Sarah Taylor, Oct. 10, 1813. He removed to 
Warren, Vt. Had Leonard, and nine other children ; 
Leonard m. Vide Ann, dr. of William Whipple, 
March 30, 1846, and lives in Irving, Mass. 

Levi Thayer — Caleb — Jeremiah — m., March 
13, 1799, Hannah Abbott. 



504 HISTORY OF THE 

Nelson Thayer — Ellis — Jeremiah — Jeremiah — 
m. Chloe, dr. of Asa Thayer. Lives on the road to 
Winchester, on a part of the old Norwood farm. Has 
an axe factory and wool carding works. Has no 
children. She d. Nov. i, 1871. 

Andretu y. Thayer m. Susan A. Tobey, Nov. 12, 
1849. Lives in Orange. Has three children. 

Galinas Thayer — Ellis — Jeremiah — Jeremiah — 
1st m., April 26, 1850, Lauretta J. Abbott. She d. ; 
2d m. Anne E. Graves, Oct. 11, 1862. Had by Lau- 
retta two children, and by Anne E. had other chil- 
dren. He is a blacksmith in Winchester. 

Alvariis L. Thayer — Ellis — Jeremiah — Jere- 
miah — m. Ellen Dunham, Nov. 7, 1858. Settled 
in Orange. Had two children. 

Grindall Thayer^ son of Uriah and Martha Thay- 
er, of Mendon, was m., Sept. 3, 1767, to Sarah Park- 
hurst. Was f. s. on L. 10, R. 12, 1768, known as the 
John Scott place, and now owned b}^ Orrin Hammond. 
Had a brick-yard on the premises, which has ever 
furnished the main supply of bricks for the town. 
Had by Sarah: Turner, b. March 25, 1768; Timo- 
thy, b. Aug. 30, 1770; Thompson, b. Feb. 3, 1773; 
Tryphena, b. April 17, 1775 ; Prentice, b. Dec. 15, 
1777; Sarah, b. Nov. 27, 1779; Uriah, b. May 25, 
1781. By Lydia Cumstock had Wyman C, b. Oct. 
3, 1787. He d. about 1820; Sarah lived to be about 

95- 

Thoinfson Thayer — Grindall — m. Clarissa Cobb, 
of Bellingham, March ?;3, 1795. Lived on his father's 
place. He d. March 7, 1861 ; she d. Nov. 6, 1834. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 505 

Had Ellis, b. Jan., 1796 ; an infant, b. 1798 ; Cynthia, 
b. April 14, 1801, m. Harmon Robinson; Lucina, b. 
Nov. 4, 1804 ; Amos W., b. Aug. 10, 1808 ; Josephus, 
b. 1810; Ethan C, b. March 19, 1814. 

Prentice Thayer — Grindall — m. Bethiah Twitch- 
ell, or widow Wright, 1802. Lived near the brook 
above Thornton's mills. Had James and other chil- 
dren. James settled near Montpelier, Vt., m. Rox- 
ana Pratt. 

Uriah Thayer — Grindall — m., 1807, Florilla 
Rock wood. Lived near by and north of the mills 
now owned by Amos Lawrence. Had Alanson B., 
b. Nov. 4, 1808 ; Lucy R., b. 181 1 ; William, b. July 
4, 1813 ; Lorenzo R., b. Dec. 2, 1814 ; Maria, b. 
1818; Sarah M., b. Dec. 6, 1821 ; Henry F.,b. 1822; 
Lewis A., b. Jan. 24, 1826, d. Jan. 28, 1846 ; Thomas 
W., b. July 4, 1828 ; Marcena, b. June 7, 1832. 

Wyman C. Thayer — Grindall — m. Polly, dr. of 
Abner Thurber, Nov. 14, 1816. He lived where his 
dr. Lorinda now resides. Had three children, viz. : 
Lorinda, b. Feb. 15, 1817, m. Nathaniel Bryant; 
Montraville, b. May 7, 1822 ; Lavona, b. June 24, 
1824, ist m. Mr. McCurdy, of Louisville, Ky., he d. 
Sept. I, 1861, 2d m. Mr. Becker, and now lives in 
New York city. He d. May 11, 1845, aged 57. She 
d. some years after. 

Ellis Thayer — Thompson — Grindall — m. Julia 
Curtis, dr. of Caleb, April 12, 182 1. Was a painter, 
and lived in Winchester. Had children. 

Ethan C. Thayer — Thompson — Grindall — m. 
Anna, dr. of Asa Thayer, Oct. 12, 1835. Removed 
to Foxboro', Mass. Had five children. 



5o6 HISTORY OF THE 

Alansoji B. Thayer — Uriah — Grindall — m., 
Aug. 9, 1832, Lois, dr. of Ellis Thayer. Had Har- 
riet S., b. June 26, 1836, m. F. J. Butterfield ; Sarah 
L., b. Jan. 11, 1838, m. Charles Jackson. 

Rev. Lorenzo R. Thayer — Uriah — Grindall — a 
graduate of the Wesleyan University, of Middletown, 
Ct., 1841, joined the M. E. church in June, 1841 ; was 
stationed in Medway, Mass., where he m. Harriet M. 
Luce, Aug. 8, 1841. She d. Feb. 6, 1842; 2dm. 
Jane Turner, July 26, 1842, and by her had six chil- 
dren ; she d. Feb. 3, 1864; 3d m. Ruby Warfield, 
Jan. I, 1865 ; she d. June 5, 1872. He was a dele- 
gate to the Centennial conference at Indianapolis, 

1856, and again at Chicago, 1868. He was elected 
overseer of Harvard College by the Legislature of 
Massachusetts, 1867, for six years. Received the 
degree of D.D. from his Alma Mater in 1863. 

Henry F. Thayer^ son of Uriah, m., Sept. 20, 

1857, Alfreda, dr. of Calvin Bryant. Settled in 
Leray, Mower Co., Minn. 

Thomas W. Thayer^ son of Uriah, m., Aug. 11, 
1852, Betsey A. Ray. Settled at Whitehall, N. Y. 

Deacon Simeon Thayer, from Cumberland, in 1768, 
m. Zerviah Ballou, Dec. 3, 1761 ; was f. s. on L. 14, 
R. 9, known as the Levi Randall farm, now owned 
by Walter N. Gay. Removed about 1800 to his son 
Simeon's, near the Alfred Saben farm ; was deacon 
of the first Baptist Church, but was converted to Uni- 
versalism by the preaching of Elder Caleb Rich and 
others. Had seven children, viz. : Phila, b. July 6, 
1763, m. Nathan Barrus ; Eleazer, b. Feb. 4, 1767, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 507 

m. Sarah Harris, 1787 ; Ziba, b. Jan. 2, 1769, m. 
Desire Barrus ; Ahaz, b. Aug. 2, 1771 ; Simeon, b. 
Oct. 12, 1774; Zerviah, b. June 24, 1779, m. Alfred 
Saben ; Benjamin, b. June 4, 1782. Eleazer and Ziba 
removed to Lewis Co., N. Y. ; Benjamin went to Jet- 
ferson Co. 

Simeon Thayer — Simeon — m. Chloe, dr. of Israel 
Saben, Jan. 30, 1793 ; lived on the old road east of 
Alfred Saben's. Had Daniel, b. Aug. 26, 1793 ; 
Saben, b. Oct. 15, 1794; Rufus, b. Aug. 15, 1796; 
Hosea, b. July 9, 1798. Removed to Leyden, Lewis 
Co.,N. Y. 

Ahaz Thayer — Simeon — m., Jan. 2, 17945 Can- 
dace Cook; removed to Leyden, Lewis Co., N. Y., 
1807. 

Mrs. N. Augusta Thayer^ dr. of Lewis Freeman, 
and widow of Ruel Thayer, of Attleboro' ; lives in 
house built by John Pickering, near Four corners. 
Had Emma A., b. Sept. 25, 1858, m. Stephen Bul- 
lock; Elsie L., b. Oct. 20, 1867, m. Fred. Wheeler. 

THRESHIRE. 

Barnabas 77/r^5///>^, probably from Rehobath,was 
f. s. on a part of L. i, R. 12, the old Aaron Kelton 
place; m., Nov. 28, 1780, Lydia Hammond, of Win- 
chester. Had Benjamin, Rebecca, and Ruth. Ben- 
jamin m. Esther Shat'ter, and removed to Athens, Vt. 

THOMPSON. 

Timothy Thompson m. Rachael ; was f. s. on 

L. 7, R. 8, known as the Enos Holbrook place, 1762. 
The house was on the old Winchester road — long 



5o8 HISTORY OF THE 

since gone. He d. April 20, 1778. Had seven 
children, viz. : Timothy, Mary, Martha, Rachel, 
Elizabeth, Jonathan, and Eunice. 

Jonathan Thompson — Timothy — m., Feb. 22, 
1795, Anna, dr. of Rev. Isaac Kenney. She died, 
and he removed with Enos Holbrook to Lamoile, 111., 
1834, where he soon after died. 

David Thompson, from Royalston, bought of Jacob 
Patch, 1828, the place recently owned by Nahum 
Putney. About 1844 he removed to the John Boyce 
farm ; from thence to Fitzwilliam, 1866. Had Aman- 
da, Delia, Jonas T., Lucy, and Abbie. 

Jonas T. Thompson — David — m. Susan, dr. of 
Jairus Perry. Lived with his father. She d. Dec. 4, 
1859. ^^ ^°^ resides in Fitzwilliam. 

THORNTON. 

Lahan Thornton m., March 25, 1792, Elizabeth 
Fisher, sister of Elder Darius Fisher, of Fitzwilliam. 
He bought of Francis Norwood, in 1788, L. 8, R. 11, 
containing the mills, and now owned by William C. 
Putney. Had Obed, Welcome, Joel, Mary, m. Lib- 
erty Aldrich ; Nancy, and eight others who died 
young. Mr. Thornton died 1819. Welcome and 
Joel continued on the place several years. Welcome 
died about 1840, unmarried. Joel m. Mary, dr. of 
Caleb Curtis, and started for Pennsylvania, about 
1848, whither had gone Obed, Mary, and Nancy, but 
he died before reaching his destination. No other 
record of family. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 509 

THURBER. 

Jonathan Thurhc7% from Rehobath, 1762, m. Lydia 
— ; was f. s. on L. 24, R. 6, next to the Bay State 



line. He was an innkeeper. Had a large two-story 
house on the premises, long since departed. The 
place is now owned by Charles H. Cass. He d. June 
25, 1780. Had Jonathan, b. July 30, 1769; Abner, 
b. Feb. 29, 1772 ; Huldah, b. April 30, 1774, d. 
Sept. 4, 1779; Daniel, Isaiah, Sylvester, Mehetabel, 
and Eunice. 

Jonathan Tharhcr — Jonathan — m. Hannah Cole, 
of Royalston, Nov. 3, 1791. 

Ahncr Thurhcr — Jonathan — m., June 5, 1796, 
Lois, dr. of John Pickering. 

Sylvester Thurhcr — Jonathan — d. 1800. 

Hczekiah Thurber,h. in Rehobath, Aug. 11, 1741, 
m. Rachel, dr. of Adam Harkness, of Smithfield, 
Nov. 6, 1757. He lived on the place where Jacob 
Bump first settled, near the southwest corner of Cass 
pond. The family removed to Saratoga Co., N. Y., 
about 1795. Had eight children, one of whom, Daniel, 
was drowned in Cass pond, and Mary m. Lilburn 
Allen. 

David Thurhcr, from Rehobath, was f. s. on L. 2 
or 3, R. 7, on the south side of the road leading from 
the county road to the Cass Bullock place. Had 
seven children ; removed from town. 

Daniel Thurhcr, probably a brother of David, m., 
Oct. 15, 1783, Olive, dr. of John Ellis; lived near 
David Thurber's. 



5IO HISTORY OF THE 

TILLSON. 

James Tillson, from Cumberland, 1767, settled on 
L. 7 and 8, R. 10, near the Tilsey, a brook named 
for him, south of John Dandley's. Had James, Olive, 
and Phebe, and probably others. He d. about 1782. 
No record of family. 

TORREY. 

Ebenezer Torrcy was f. s. on L. 15, R. 2, on the 
road between the Reuben Randall and the John Gor- 
ton farms. 

TRUESDELL. 

Seth Truesdell, from Connecticut, bought of George 
Clark the Enos Holbrook farm, 1844; lived there 
until 1856, when he removed to Wisconsin. 

TUCKER. 

Amos A. T-iicker, from Winchester, m. Louisa 
Goodell, Dec. 14, 1854 ; moved to the Benjamin 
Newell farm, 1869. Had AHce R., b. April 27, 
1856, m. Walter J. Bolles. 

TUTTLE. 

Nathan E. Ttittle, from Littleton, Mass., bought, 
1871, the Seth Curtis place. Lived there until 1878, 
when he removed to Peterboro' ; now resides in 
Worcester. Had Frederick H., Ida L., who m. 
Willie O. Cass. 

TWITCHELL. 

Abncr Tivitchcll^ from Walpole, b. December 
23, 1753, ist m. Feb. i, 1779, Sarah, dr. of Daniel 
Cass; she d. about 1785 ; 2d m. Lucy Daniels. He 
first lived on Caleb Curtis' place, L. 21, 9 R., the 
place first settled by Hix ; bought, 1806, the 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 5II 

farm now owned by Sylvester Daniels. Had by 
Sarah: Daniel, b. Nov. 26, 1779. By Lucy had 
Lucy, b. Sept. i, 1796, m. Elisha Harkness ; Sarah, 
b. Oct. 18, 1803, m. Sylvester Aldrich ; he d. 1831. 

Daniel Tivitchell — Abner — m., Nov. 26, 1801, 
Rhoda, dr. of Thomas Kelton, of Warwick. Lived 
on the place now occupied by Mrs. Jonathan Cass 
until 182 1, when he removed to the old Samuel 
Curtis place, L. 22, 6 R. Had five children, viz. : 
Jonas, b. Aug. 8, 1802 ; Abner, b. May 4, 1813 ; 
Dulcena, b. Nov. 24, 1817, m. Henry B. Swan ; 
Rhoda, b. August, 1820, m. David Martin ; Daniel, 
b. May 28, 1822. 

Jonas Tzvitchcll — Daniel — Abner — m.,July 11, 
1830, Eliza, dr. of Dr. Amos Howe. Lived on the 
Josiah Lawrence place ; from thence removed to the 
place now occupied by Silas O. Martin. Had 
George, b. Jan. i, 1831, d. in Boston; Melissa, b. 
Sept. 3, 1832, m. Rufus Freeman; Fanny, b. Feb. 
4, 1841, m. Charles Howe; Daniel E., b. Jan. 11, 
1846. 

Abner Twitchell — Daniel — Abner — m., Apr. 19, 
1843, Adaline, dr. of Levin Aldrich. Lived on the 
Capt. Crooker farm. Had Almon, b. Nov. 2, 1844; 
Adalitte V., b. Mar. 24, 1847, m. L. Warren Wright; 
he d. Feb. 9, 1869. 

Daniel T-witchell — Daniel — Abner — m . , May 6, 
1855, Minerva L. Freeman. Has lived until recent- 
ly on his father's old place ; removed to the Sam. 
Thompson place, 1882. Had seven children, viz: 
Jane D., b. Mar. 31, 1856; Nettie L., b. Oct. 3, 



512 HISTORY OF TlIK 

1857 ; Etta R., b. Apr. 20, 1859; Orison D., b. July 
4, 1861 ; Wilbur J. ,b. May 26, 1864; Lucy L., b. 
Aug. 24, 1869; Forrest J., b. Aug. 4, 1871. His wile 
has now left him. 

Almoti Txvjtchcll — Abner — Daniel — Jonas — m . 
Sarah, dr. of Edson Starkey, Esq., Nov. 28, 1871. 
Lives on the Crooker place with his mother. 

Jonas TivitcJicll — brother of Abner, from Wal- 
pole — m. Joanna, dr. of John Bennett, and was f. 
s. on L. 18, R. 9, where David Bolles afterward re- 
sided ; then removed to the farm next south of Ben- 
nett's, known as the David Holbrook place, first set- 
tled by Constant Barney ; removed to Swansey. Had 
one son, David, who m., May 26, 1791, Sarah, dr. of 
Abraham Randall. Lived with his father in Swansey 
until the father's decease, when he removed to North- 
field. 

Enos Twitckcll, from Athol, kept the corner store 
at the Four corners about 1818-20 ; he d. 1820. 

Sttllman Twitchcll, from Athol, m. Elvira Cheever. 
Was a shoemaker : served apprenticeship with Amos 
Bennett. He removed to Lexington, Mass. 

TYLER. 
Moses Tyler ^ b. May, 1751, m. Mary Scott, b. 
Dec. 25, 1757, dr. of John, Sept. 9, 1777. He came 
from Attleboro', 1775, ^"^ bought L. 5 and 6, R. 12 ; 
he built the buildings now standing on the farm ; he 
was a justice of the peace, held numerous town of- 
fices, and was representative to the General Court 
for several years in succession ; he was a land sur- 
veyor, and the only plan of the town now known was 
made by him; he d. suddenly, in an apopletic fit, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 513 

Nov. 9, 1818, age 68. She d. May 14, 1827, aged 
69. Had eight children, viz. : Chloe,b.July i, 1778, 
m. Rev. David Ballou ; Melinda, b. Aug. 12, 1780, 
m. Asa Bancroft, of Warwick; Mary, b. Aug. 9, 
1782, m. John Griffin, of Essex, Vt. : Aaron, b. July 
30, 1784, d. Jan. 24, 1796 ; Moses, b. Aug. 29, 1786 ; 
Benjamin, b. May 31, 1789, d. May 12, 1796; John, 
b. May 31, 1791, went to Kentucky, and d. in Texas ; 
Patience, b. July 17, 1795, m. Samuel Atherton, and 
moved to Attleboro'. 

Moses Tyler — Moses — m. Abigail, b. June 27, 
1789, dr. of Jonathan Gale, of Royalston. He lived 
after his marriage on the Gibson place, in the west 
part of Royalston. After his father's decease, he re- 
moved to the old homestead, and there resided until 
his death, Oct. 8, 1847, aged 61. She died Oct. 13, 
1876, aged 87. Had eight children, viz. : Danford, b. 
Oct. 2, 1812 ; David, b. Jan. 24, 1815 ; Jonathan G., 
b. Nov. 12, 1817, unmarried, lives in Keene ; Pa- 
tience, b. June II, 1820, m. William Bassett ; Loren 
F., b. Feb. 27, 1822; Laura J., b. Dec. 23, 1823, m. 
David Randall, d. in Waltham, i860; Rhoda G., b. 
April I, 1827, m. Stephen C. Reed, d. July 12, 1880 ; 
Juda Ann, b. July 8, 1829, m. Ephraim F. Taft, lives 
in Keene. 

Danford Tyler, — Moses — Moses — m. Emily, dr. 
of Stephen Reed, of Warwick. Kept store at Four 
corners, from. 1838 to 1845, in company with Daniel 
Bassett, jr., and with his brother David; removed to 
Warwick, 185 1, where he d., Aug. 19, 1870. Had 
Emilie J., b. Dec. 18, 1844, m. William Lawson, of 
England; James D., b. June 15, 1848, lives in Ber- 
lin, Mass. ; Moses R., b. June 19, 1850, lives in 
Berlin, Mass. ; Mary A., b. April 26, 1852. 
33 



514 HISTORY OF THE 

David Tyler — Moses — Moses — ist m. Clara B. 
Allen, of Boston, May, 1842 ; she died; 2d m. Helen 
M. Broad. By Clara B. had Clara, died. By Helen 
had George W., b. April 10, 1857. David was with 
Danford in the store at Four corners, 1840. Removed 
to Boston, and was treasurer of the Boston & Provi- 
dence R. R. Co. He d. Feb. 2, 1867. 

Lor en F. Tyler — Moses — Moses — m. Anne N. 
Hitchcock, Nov. ti, 1856. Went to Calitornia, 1849 • 
returned to Boston, 1852 ; carried on business as mer- 
chant tailor until 1862 ; is now retired, and lives in 
Boston. No children. 

Chester Tyler moved into town, 1855. Had Oscar 
S., George B., Henry, and four drs. Lived on the 
Elijah Bolles place. He d. Oct. 11, 1856, age 60. 

Oscar S. Tyler, son of Chester, lived with his 
father ; remained there about three years. 

WAKEFIELD. 

Sylvaniis Wakefield, from Charlton, Mass., built 
the hotel now owned by Jerahmeel Allen, about 
i8i6-'7. Removed from town, 1821. ; d. in Dudley, 
Mass., about 1855. 

Rufiis Wakefield, brother of Sylvanus, kept the 
old Thurber tavern from about 1812 to 1825, when 
he removed from town. 

WALKER. 

'Jonah Hiram Walker, of Royalston, m., Aug. 8, 
1813, Mary, dr. of Dr. Ebenezer Swan. Removed 
to the Maturin Ballon farm, known also as the Bump 
place, 1831. Had Lyman, b. March 16, 1815, d. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 515 

young; Maria, b. Sept. i, 1816, m. George Martin; 
Alonzo, b. March 20, 1818 ; Milo S., b. Aug. 14, 
1828; Tamasin S., b. July 8, 1831. Alonzo d. May 
3, 1836, aged 19 ; Tamasin d. Feb. 27, 1845, aged 18 ; 
Milo d. young. 

Lyman IVa/ker, son of Jonah, m., Oct. 15, 1835, 
Emeline Ingram, of Amherst, Mass. Was a harness- 
maker ; worked at his trade a short time at the Four 
corners, about 1838. He removed to Fond-du-Lac, 
Wis., where he followed his trade. When the war 
broke out he enlisted in ist Wis. Cavalry, serving in 
the department of equipment with the highest satis- 
faction and reliability. Emeline, his wife, d. 1870, 
By her he had one dr., Emeline Lisle, b. Oct. 15, 
i83|» while her parents resided in the old historic 
house, celebrated as the birthplace of the Rev. Hosea 
Ballou. Lyman 2d m. Merriam P. Freeman in June, 
187 1, by whom he had three children, viz. : George 
Lyman, Josephine, and Anna M. He d. in Fond- 
du-Lac, 1883, aged 68. His dr. Emeline Lisle, who 
has been legally renamed Lisle Lester, is now living 
in New York City, a notice of whom will be found 
in another part of this work. 

WALLACE. 

Seivcll Wallace^ a large, strong, good-natured 
man, who liked rum, worked for Col. Buffum and 
Jacob Sweet in building roads, about 1825. He came 
from Townsend, Mass. 

WARD. 

Nathan Ward lived on the Oliver Hix farm about 
twentv years. Removed from town, 1840. Had six 
children, three of whom were of one birth. 



5i6 



HISTORY OF THE 



WARE. 

Dr. Letvis Ware lived on the Oliver Pen-}- farm. 
Was a travelling botanic physician ; died, 1832. 
Had several children. No record. 

WARREN. 
Dexter Warren was b. in Acton, Vt., 1805, m. 
Ava, dr. of Dea. John Grimes, of Swansey, N. H., 
1827. From Swansey he removed to the Lemuel 
Scott farm, 1858, where he now resides. Had Min- 
erva, John, Jane, Augusta, and Emma. 




WEATHERHEAD. 

Wtlliam Weatherhead, a non combos, was brought 
into these parts from Cumberland, when about eight 
years old, by Russell Ballou. He lived at first with 
Mr. Ballou, and afterwards with Maj. Ebenezer Swan. 
In his old age he found a home in the county house 
;it Westmoreland, where he died, aged about 90. He 
had the credit of doing as well as he knew. 

Of all in town, 'twas often said, 
The most foolish was Bill Weatherhead. 
Though long he lived to drudge and toil, 
With " narj" cent for all his moil, 
Perhaps in some more favored sphere. 
His recompence will there appear. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 517 

WEEKS. 
William Weeks, son of Richard Weeks, of War- 
wick, ist m., June 15, 1789, Martha, dr. of Timothy 
Thompson ; 2d m. Joanna Davis, of Royalston. Lived 
on the pLice now owned by Mrs. Alfreda Carpenter. 
The house, which stood where Mrs. Carpenter's barn 
now does, was removed about 1844, ^"^ ^^ now occu- 
pied by Perley Amadon. Had by Martha : Hannah, 
b. June 17, 1790, m. Jacob Sweet. He d. Sept. 8, 
1837, aged 74; Martha d. Nov. 30, 1813, aged 45. 

Richaj-d Weeks, brother of WilHam, m. Lydia 
WelHngton, of Acton, Mass. Was a hatter. Lived 
in Royalston until 1824, when he removed to the 
Holmes place, at the middle of the town, now owned 
by Julius Whipple. He d. March 25, 1848, aged 77 ; 
she d. Dec. 8, 1856, aged 82. Had seven children, 
viz. : Jarvis, b. Jan., 1799 ; Dolly, M. S3-lvia, b. Aug. 
21, 1804, m. Joseph Whitcomb ; Irene, b. April 14, 
1806, m. Joseph Swan : Adaline, b. Jan. 15, 1808, m. 
Cyrel Amadon ; Addison, b. Dec. 3, 1809 ; Randilla, 
b. Sept. I, 1817, m. Obediah S. Swan. 

yarvis Weeks — Richard — m., Feb. 22, 1826, 
Candace, dr. of Dr. Amos Howe. Lived on the 
widow Howe place, and after her decease repaired 
the buildings and kept tavern for some years. Was 
town clerk many years, representative to the General 
Court, and justice of the peace. Had eight children, 
viz. : Francis, b. Sept. 30, 1826, a merchant in Win- 
chester ; Mary Ann, b. March 15, 1821, m. Levi 
Hill; Robert E., b. Nov. 8, 1831, was a printer in 
Cambridgeport, d. 1875 '" Roscoe, b. Oct. 14, 1833 > 
Joseph, b. Jan. i, 1837; Edward P., b. March 19, 



5l8 HISTORY OF THE 

1838, d. April 3, 1841 : Ellen Maria, b. June i, 1841, 
m. Jonas R. Wheeler; Henry A., b. Aug. 12, 1845. 
He d. Nov. 27, 1865, aged 66\ she d. June 18, 1882. 

Addison Weeks — Richard — m. Eliza Wellington, 
of Rindge. Removed to Rindge, 1841, and thence 
to Wayne Co., N. Y., where he died, 1881. Had 
two children, Eliza Jane and Anna. 

Francis Weeks ist m. Marinda J., dr. of Asa 
Thayer : 2d m. Mariette C. Follet, dr. of William 
Follet. Had by Marinda J. : Delia G., b. Dec. 6, 
1852, d. March 12, 1873. Had by Mariette: Jennie 
L., b. Dec. 29, 1859. ^^ ^"^^ been a successful mer- 
chant in Winchester for more than thirty years. 

Roscoe Weeks — Jarvis — Richard — m., Oct. 21, 
1858, Clara F., dr. of Charles Norwood. Removed, 
1867, to the place formerly occupied by James Ballon, 
jr., known as the early home of Mrs. Eliza Ballon 
Garfield. Had Edward P., b. May 30, 1859; Mary 
F., b. April 16, 1862, d. Oct. 7, 1865; Ida C b. 
Dec. 2, 1863; Charles H., b. April 4, 1866; Willie 
R., b. Dec. 8, 1867; May F., b. Sept. 14, 1869; 
Nellie v., b. March 17, 1872; Bertha L., b. March 
30, 1874. 

Hon. "Josef h Weeks, son of Richard, of Warwick, 
and brother of William and Rifhard, of Richmond, 
1st m., Feb. 16, 1795, Mary, dr. of Richard Peters. 
2d m. Anna, dr. of Stephen Ballard, Jan. 17, 1813. 
He lived where Jarvis Ingalls now resides; 1837, re- 
moved to Winchester, and there died, Aug. 4, 1845, 
aged 72. Was town clerk more than twenty years. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 519 

representative to General Court, associate judge of 
Court of Common Pleas, and representative to Con- 
gress. Had by Mary: Chauncey, b. Dec. 2, 1795, 
removed to Pittsburg, Pa. ; Joseph, b. Feb. 26, 1798, 
removed to Pittsburg, Pa. ; Roswell,b. May 14, 1802 ; 
Mahala. b. May 19, 1808, m. Ebenezer Babcock ; 
Mary Peters, b. April 27, 1810, d. July 27, 1810. 
By Anna had : Elizabeth, b. May 26, 1813 ; Lafay- 
ette, b. Ma}^ 26, 1824, lives in Keene. Mary, his 
wife, d. May 22, 1810, aged 32. 

Roswell Weeks — Joseph — m. Delila. dr. of Caleb 
Curtis. Lived where the widow Fisher now resides ; 
removed to Pittsburg, 1843 ; returned to Winchester, 
1843 ; and thence to Keene, 1851, where he d., Nov. 
II, 1874, aged 72. She d. July 15, 1835. ^^^^ one 
child, Mary Peters, d. in Pittsburg, Pa. 

Lafayette Weeks — Joseph — m. Emma E. Wright 
Nov. 2, 1845 ; moved from Winchester to Keene, 
1852, where he still resides; is a tinman. 

William W. Weeks, son of Caleb, of Warwick, a 
curled-hair worker, lived a number of years on the 
old Oliver Capron place, about 1845. 

WESTCOAT. 

yames Westcoat, from Rehobath, was f. s. on L. 
13, R. 3, the place now owned by Ozial Ballou. He 
sold to Esek Buffum, 1788, and removed from town. 
Had eight children. 

WH EATON. 

Moses Wheaton m. Sarah, dr. of Maturin Ballou, 
Oct. 14, 1781. Lived near William Chase's. Had 
thirteen children. He d. Jan. 3, 1819. 



520 HISTORY OF THE 

Moses B. Whcaton — Moses — m., Nov. 26, 1812, 
Mary, dr. of Nathaniel Aldrich. Esq. Was a Meth- 
odist minister. 

Dr. Christopher C. Wheaton, from Warwick, be- 
came associated with Dr. John Parkhurst in the prac- 
tice of medicine, 1836; remained about two years, 
and then removed to Winchester. 

WHLEtER. 

Peregrine Wheeler, from Berlin, Mass., about 
1802, bought of Jaazaniah Barrett the Daniel Cass 
farm, the place now owned by Jonas Wheeler. His 
wife was Sarah Carter,»of Berlin, by whom he had 
Levi, b. in Richmond, April 26, 1802. He d. about 
1824. She d. about 1803. 

I^evi Wheeler — Peregrine — m., 1825, Lucy, dr. 
of Darling Saben. He lived on the place bought by 
his father of Jaazaniah Barrett. He d. May 26, 1858, 
aged 56. She d. Sept. 5, 1858, aged 54. Had Pere- 
grine, b. Oct. 25, 1826, d. June 19, 1829; Sarah C, 
b. Dec. 5, 1828, m. J. W. Colburn ; Levi P., b. Jan. 
25, 183 1, not married, lives in Minnesota ; Phebe M., 
b. May 2, 1833, m. Christopher Robb ; Lucy S., b. 
May 16, 1835, 1st m. W. J. Ballou, 2d m. R. W. 
Moss; Hannah, b. April 28, 1837, d. July 16, 1838; 
Jonas R., b. Dec. 12, 1838 : Henry, b. July 19, 1841 ; 
Darling S., b. Oct. 31, 1844, "^- ^^- E. Bliss, lives 
in Minnesota; Lydia J., b. Sept. 13, 1848, m. T. P. 
Allen. 

yonas R. Wheeler — Levi — Peregrine — m., June 
21, 1858, E. Maria, dr. of Jarvis Weeks, Esq. ; lives 
on his father's place, L. 7, R. 6, the place first settled 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 521 

by Daniel Cass. Had Ilattie J., b. Nov. 21, 1858, m. 
Everett C. Page ; Ida M., b. April 6, i860, m. Charles 
F. Pickering ; Fred. L., b. March 4, 1862 ; Waldo J., 
b. Sept. 30, 1863 : Albert J., b. Sept. 21, 1866: Tru- 
man W., b. April 19, 1876. 

Hciuy Wheeler — Levi — Peregrine — m. Mary E. 
Talbot, of Swansey. Lived on the Henry Ingalls 
place. Had two children. Moved to Minnesota, 
1875, ^^^ there d., Jan. 13, 1879. ^^^ two children, 
d. in infancy. 

Fred. L. Wheeler — ^Jona.R. — Levi — Peregrine — 
m., March 30, 1883, Elsie L. Thayer, dr. of Augus- 
ta (Freeman) Thayer. 

yohn Wheeler, from Marlboro', 1834, "^' widow 
Phila Tenney, dr. of Ananias Aldrich. Lived at the 
old Ezra Martin place ; removed. 

Zacheus Wheeler, from Orange, m. Dexter, 

dr. of Benjamin Dexter ; lived a while at the Holmes 
house, at the middle of the town, and at other places. 
No record. 

Stephen Wheeler, son of Stephen Wheeler, of Troy, 
m., Dec. 10, 1829, Harriet Gorham ; bought the 
Wakefield tavern at the Four corners, 1829, and about 
the same time opened the store on the corner, which 
he sold to B. Nourse, 1832. He d. July 19, 1837, 
aged 28. Had one child, Stephen Warren. 

Sampson W. fr7/t:^/d:r, from Troy, uncle of Stephen, 
jr., continued the hotel business a short time after 
Stephen's death, and then removed to Troy. He m. 
Marinda, dr. of Reuben Newell ; he d. in Troy. 



522 HISTORY OF THE 

Jesse G. Wheeler, shoemaker, from Boxl-)oroiigh, 
Mass., 1832, brother of Sampson. He m. Imogene, 
dr. of Waher Erskine, Oct. 19, 1834; removed from 
town, 1834. 

Charles H. Wheeler — Jesse G. — m. Lydia, dr. of 
Joseph Swan, Feb. 13, 1859; lived with his f^ither- 
in-law. Had Jennie M.,b. Nov. 15, 1862 ; Alice C, 
b. Sept. II, 1864. He was killed while acting as 
brakeman on the cars of Cheshire R. R., April 15, 
1865. 

WHITE. 

Calvin White, probably from Dorchester, Mass., 
lived on the Luke Scott place, L. 20, R. 11, the farm 
first settled by EHis Thayer, sr., and afterwards by 
Stephen Darling. He removed to Swansey about 
1838. Had one son, Lowry, who was a remarkable 
scholar, and who, for the improvement of his health, 
went to China, where he died, aged 25 years. 

George White, son of Betsey Alexander, brought 
up by Enos Holbrook, went with the Holbrook family 
to Illinois, 1834. Returned, and now lives in War- 
wick. 

Enoch White, from Smithfield, m., Aug. 31, 1755, 
Lydia Syrague ; was f. s. on L. 13, R. 2, the place 
since owned by Nathaniel Boorn. He sold to John 
Gorton, and removed to Claremont, N. H., about 
1783. 

WILSON. 

Amory Wilson, from Swansey, about 1818 ; served 
with William Bassett apprenticeship as tanner and 
currier. He afterwards made wooden pumps. Re- 
moved to Marcellus, N. Y., 1828. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 523 

WHIPPLE. 

Nathaniel Whipfle, son of Israel Whipple and 
Mary Wilmarth, of Cumberland, m. Bethiah Slack, 
April 22, 1736. Came to town, 1767, and was f. s. 
on L. 5, R. II, known as the Capt. Dan. or Enoch 
Whipple place, now owned by Lucius Carroll. Had 
nine children, all born in Cumberland, viz. : Israel, 
b. March i, 1737; Ichabod, b. April 2, 1738; Na- 
thaniel, b. March 24, 1741 : Mary, b. June 18, 1743, 
m. Peter Aldrich ; Isquire, b. April 18, 1745 ; Rufus, 
b. Jan. 14, 1747 ; Elkanah, b. Dec. 2, 1749 ; Dan., b. 
Aug. 24, 1751 ; Sarah, b. Nov. 6, 1753, m. Simonds. 
Of these Israel, Ichabod, Iqsuire, Rufus, and Dan. 
are known to have settled in Richmond. He d. Sept., 
1792. 

Israel Whiffle — Nathaniel — was f. s. on L. 2, 
R. II, known as the Ichabod Whipple place. No 
record of family. 

Ichabod Whiffle — Nathaniel — ist m. Catherine 
Brown, Feb. 16, 1762 ; 2d m., 1774, Lydia Parker, 
probably a sister of Reuben, sr. Was f. s. on L. 7, 
R. 12, the place formerly owned by Amos Garnsey. 
The house stood some distance west of the buildings 
now on the farm. Had by Catherine : Ichabod, and 
by Lydia had: Elkanah, William, Henry, b. 1791 ; 
John,d. young ; Anna,m. Enoch Whipple ; Vide Ann, 
and some others whose names are unknown. 

Isquire Whiffle — Nathaniel — ist m. Molly 
Latham, a sister of Jared Ballou's wife. He lived 
first on the Zimri Ingalls place, north-west of the 
William Randall farm ; afterwards removed to the 
place more recently occupied by his son Charles. 



524 HISTORY OF THE 

Had by Molly : Pardon, who removed to Lisbon, N. 
H., Charles, and Isabella ; and by a second wife ; Is- 
quire and Polly. 

Rn/ns Whipple, Esq. — Nathaniel — m . , March 2 2 , 
1770, Mar}', dr. of Azariah Cumstock. Was f. s. on L. 
6, R. II, now owned by Charles H. Conway. He was 
moderator, and on the board of selectmen many years, 
representative to the General Court, and delegate to 
revise the Constitution of N. H., 1791. He d. 1831, 
aged 84. Had eleven children, viz. : Lydia, b. May 
14, 1770 ; Welcome, b. April 6, 1772, d. July i, 1773 ; 
Stephen, b. Aug. 17, 1774; George W., b. Dec. 21, 
1776; David, b. April 9, 1779; Israel, b. March 8, 
1781 ; Clarinda, b. June 2, 1784; Sally, b. Aug. 18, 
1786; Mary, b. Oct. 29, 1789; Candace, b. Feb. 18, 
1793 ; Lewis, b. May 17, 1795. 

Capt. Dan. Whipple — Nathaniel — m., Aug. 31, 
1769, Amy, dr. of Azariah Cumstock. He lived on 
the home place with his father. Was constable many 
years; d. April 19, 1834, ^g^d 82; she d. Jan. 3, 
1809, aged 59. Had eleven children, viz. : Lucy, b. 
Jan. 5, 1770, m. Robert Buffum ; Lorina, b. Sept. i, 
1771 ; Czarina, b. Sept. 5, 1773; Amy, b. Nov. 6, 
1775, m. Joseph Burlingame ; Bethiah, b. Dec. 19, 
1778, m. Ono Cass; Azariah, b. Jan. 15, 1781 ; 
Aaron, b. Sept. 3, 1782; Benjamin H., b. Oct. 24, 
1784; Lovise, b. Feb. 25, 1787, ist m. William 
Whipple, 2d m. Jacob Sweet; Nathaniel, b. May 24, 
1789; Enoch, b. Aug. 14, 1791 ; Sabrina, b. 1772, 
d. Dec. 27, 1845 ; Dan. T., son by his 2d wife. 

Jchabod Whipple, jr. — Ichabod — Nathaniel — m. 
Chloe, dr. of Stephen Kempton. Lived on the place 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 525 

next south of Barnabas Barrus. Had Ichabod, Lucy, 
m. Mellen Barrus; Chloe, ist m. Willard Whipple, 
2d m. Edwin P. Tenney ; Mason, Delura, m. Jesse 
Watson; Experience, m. Mixter ; Truman, went to 
Penn., and a son, Galon. 

Elkanah W/iippIc — Ichabod — Nathaniel — m., 
Dec. 19, 1818, Elizabeth Stearns, ofWarwick. Lived 
in Warwick. Had a son, Chauncey, and two daugh- 
ters. He d. June 6, 1852, aged 75 ; she d. Jan. 29, 
1858, aged 67. 

William Whiffle — Ichabod — Nathaniel — i st m . , 
Feb. 14, 1809, Lovice, dr. of Dan. Whipple. Lived 
at various places in town. Had Moses P., d. Jan. 
24, 1832, aged 23; Amariah, and Edwin. 2d m., 
Sept. 2, 1819, Polly Naromore, and by her had Fa- 
tima, b. 1818, m. Nathan Bolles ; Parkhurst, Vide 
Ann, b. March 15, 1827, m. Leonard Thayer; Emma 
Jane. He d. May 7, 1869, aged 70; Polly d. Sept. 
7, 1854, aged 60. 

Henry Whiffle — Ichabod — Nathaniel — m. Polly 
Smith, of Warwick. Lived in Warwick. Had Han- 
nah, Annie, John, William, Henry, Mariette. He 
d. Dec. 8, 1874; she d. Jan. 29, 1858. 

Charles Whiffle — Isquire — Nathaniel — ist m., 
Oct. 12, 1794, Dorcas Taft ; 2d m. Molly Jones, Sept. 
16, 1814. Lived on his father's place, the farm next 
south of where James Swan formerly lived. Had by 
Dorcas: Willard, who m. Chloe, dr. of Ichabod 
Whipple ; and Nancy, who kept his house some years 
after his wife's decease, and d. Sept., 1877. Charles 
d. April 16, 1857, aged 84. 



526 HISTORY OF THE 

Isqtiii'c Whipple — Isquire — Nathaniel — m., Dec. 
8, 1813, Lydia Ellis. He lived next north of Esq. 
Rufus Whipple's. Had Mary, m. David B. Aldrich, 
and Barbara, ist m. Elisha Spencer, 2d m. Lewis G. 
Rich. No other record. 

Azariah Whiffle — Dan — Nathaniel — m. Keziah 
Whipple, dr. of Ichabod, March 15, 1802. He re- 
moved to northern Vermont, and settled on the shore 
of Lake Memphremagog, in the town of Newport, 
where some of his children still living reside. Had 
Aaron C, d. Sept. 20, 1803 : Jemima, b. March 13, 
1806; Jinks, b. Feb. 28, 1808. 

Aaron Whiffle — Dan — Nathaniel — m. , July 8, 
1801, Keziah, dr. of John Cass, jr. He d. Aug. 1801, 
and she 2d m. Benjamin Newell, Esq. 

Benja7nin H. Whiffle m., 1802, Parma, dr. of 
Benjamin Kingman, of Winchester ; lived on Pudding 
hill, in Winchester. 

Nathaniel Whiffle — Dan. — Nathaniel — m., May 
27, 1810, Sarah, dr. of Esek Buffum. He lived at 
various places in town, and, lastly, at the Richard 
Weeks place, at the middle of the town, he d. ; she 
d. Oct. 14, 1868. Had Esek B., b. Nov. 5, 1810, 
removed to Detroit, Mich., where he d. ; Lucretia, 
b. Jan. 26, 1813, m. Holman Barrus ; Dan., b. June 
14, 1815, removed to Detroit. 

Enoch Whiffle — Dan. — Nathaniel — m.,Sept. 12, 
1819, Anna, dr. of Ichabod Whipple. He lived with 
his father on the old homestead, and d. May 21, 
1837 ; she d. Aug. 12, 1841. Had no children. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 527 

DiDi. T. Whipple — Dan. — Nathaniel — was never 
married. He lived with his brother Enoch, and with 
the widow Anne. He d. 1842. 

In mother wit he did abound, 
But little more in him was found. 

Ichahod Whipple — Ichabod — Ichabod — Nathaniel 
— m. Arvilla, dr. of Silas Ballon, jr. ; lived in War- 
wick. Had Orlan O., b. 1836; Vibbert, 

Orlan O. Whipple, son of Ichabod, m. Mary Ann, 
dr. of Perley Amadon ; lives near the Four corners, 
on the George Biiffum place ; owns and drives a daily 
mail passenger coach to Keene. Had Oretta M., b. 
May 16, 1868; Nettie M., b. May 19, 1872; Grace 
B., b. Aug. 8, 1875 ; Fred. O., b."'Sept. i, 1881. 

Henry Whipple, son of Henry, m., Nov. 18, 1863, 
Sarah F., dr. of Lewis Fisher; lives on the John W. 
Herrick place. No children. 

Preserved Whipple, son of Daniel Whipple, re- 
moved from Cumberland to Richmond, 1794 ; m. 
Olive, dr. of James Ballou, sr. He first lived on the 
place settled by Royal Aldrich, on part of L. 15, R. 
4 ; afterwards lived near Tully Brook, on the farm 
now owned by Henry Curtis. Had ten children, all 
b. before he came, viz. : Otis, b. Dec. 28, 1767 ; Pre- 
served, b. March 27, 1770; Stephen, b. Nov. 27, 
1772; Phila, b. April 25, 1776; Silas, b. Sept. 8, 
1778; Comfort, b. Jan. 7, 1781 ; Nancy, b. Sept. 18, 
1783, d. April 23, 1855, aged 71 ; Olive, b. July 2, 
1786; Russell, b. Aug. 11, 1789; James, b. April 
10, 1792, and Tamma, who d. in infancy. He d. 
May 25, 1813, age 68; she d. April 14, 1845, age 
94. Children all b. in Cumberland. 



528 HISTORY OF THE 

Otis Whiffle — Preserved — m., March 15, 1798, 
Lydia, dr. of Capt. Amos Boorn. He removed to 
Fitzwilliam. He d. Aug. 22, 1852: she d. Dec. 15, 

1861. Had seven children, viz. : Otis, b. July 28, 
1799; Lydia, b. Nov. 17, 1802; Nathan, b. March 
12, 1804; Olive, b. Oct. 27, 1806, d. Aug. 13, 1810; 
Alpha, b. Dec. 2, 1808, m. Nathan Bowen ; Silas, b. 
April 16, 181 1 ; Elvira, b. April i, 1815, m. M. Ansel 
Allen. 

Silas Whiffle — Preserved — m., Feb. 25, 181 2, 
Prusia, dr. of Stephen Boyce. Lived on the place 
now owned by Jesse Bolles ; removed to the Capt. 
Amos Boorn farm, and lived, lastly, in the house 
where Calvin Martin now resides. He d. May 28, 

1862, aged 84; she d. April 2, 1870, aged 79. Had 
Olive, b. June 22, 1812, m. Danvers Martin ; Stephen, 
b. Jan. I, 1815, d. March 2, 1835 '■> Tamma, b. Sept. 
II, 1817 ; Silas, b. April 12, 1827 ; Nancy, b. March 
18, 1829, m. Stephen L. Randall, of Keene. 

Russell Whiffle — Preserved — lived with his mother 
and his sister Nancy, most of the time, on the old 
homestead, near Tully Brook. After their decease 
he resided with his nephew, Silas Whipple, jr. His 
is a name which should not be passed over in silence. 
His long life was spent almost wholly in town. He 
was a student, naturally so ; he attained superior 
scholarship unaided by the schools, by a long course 
of reading and study. He was well versed in his- 
tory, mental and moral philosophy, and in the cur- 
rent literature of the day. He mingled but little in 
public assemblies, and seemed instinctively to dread 
close contact with the noisy business world. In pri- 
vate discourse his conversational powers were remark- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



529 



able, his command of language was great, and the 
bold figures of speech he occasionally used were 
masterly and impressive. He enjoyed largely the 
confidence of his fellow-citizens, was repeatedly 
honored with the higher offices in their gift, which, 
from a sense of duty rather than from choice, he ac- 
cepted. He passed away, Oct. 25, 1877, aged 88 
years, honored and respected by all that knew him. 
He was never married. 

Nancy Whipple, daughter of Preserved, was a re- 
markable woman, and if the testimony of those who 
went to consult her may be relied upon, she had 
powers quite as wonderful in some respects as are re- 
lated of spiritual mediums of the present time. She 
seemed to have inherited the marvellous gifts pos- 
sessed by her uncle James Ballou, and was equally 
successful with him in satisfying many of her ability 
to tell past and future events. The concurrent testi- 
mony of those by whom she was best known is that 
she was an honest and virtuous woman, and possessed 
at least large powers of penetration and discernment. 
She was never married ; lived with her mother and 
brother Russell; d. April 23, 1855, aged 71 years. 

Otis WJiipple — Otis — Preserved — m., Oct. 3, 
1819, Amy, dr. of John Harkness. He lived some 
years on the old homestead, near Tully ; removed to 
Fitzwilliam, 1838. He d. Oct. 3, 1865. Had Rus- 
sell, b. Jan. 22, 1820; Olive, b. April 7, 1821 ; Otis 
M.. b. Sept. 30, 1822, d. ; Nancy, b. March 31, 1825 ; 
Otis, b. Jan. 7, 1827 ; Lydia A., b. June 25, 1828 ; 
Nathan, b. Nov. 28, 1829; Philinda A., b. May 15, 
1831 ; Moulton, b. July 29, 1832 ; James E., b. April 
3,1834; Stephen, b. Dec. 30, 1835; Alfred P., b. 
34 



530 HISTORY OF THE 

July 28, 1837 ; Eunice M., b. July 20, 1839 '■> William, 
b. March 20, 1841 ; Joseph L., b. July 4, 1843. 
Russell was killed at siege of Port Hudson, 1863. 

Nathan Whi^-ple — Otis — Preserved — m., May 
18, [828, Julia, dr. of Hendrick Martin ; lived on his 
father's place in Fitzwilliam until recently ; now re- 
sides in Winchester. 

Silas Whi^^lc — Otis — Preserved — m. Diancy, dr. 
of Nathaniel Naromore ; lived at the old Dr. Park- 
hurst house, at Four corners. Had Julius M., b. 
May 8, 1832; Roselma A., m. Gilbert iVrmstrong ; 
Stephen M. ; Jenette, b. 1843, m. Frank Amadou; 
Diancy d. Sept. 8, 1867. He now lives in Brookfield. 

Silas Whiffle — Silas — Preserved — m., Feb. 25, 
1858, Melinda C. Bowman of Fitchburg, Mass. He 
lived first with his father where Calvin Martin now 
resides ; thence removed to the old Whipple home- 
stead near Tully brook, and lastly to the Luther 
Ballou farm in Royalston. • Had Arthur L., b. May 
4, 1861 ; Helen M., b. Oct. 11, 1863; Edward H., 
b. Dec. 16, 1866; Ernest U., b. Mar. 30, 1870; 
Addie G., b. Oct. 18, 1872. 

'Julius M. Whipple — Silas — Otis — Preserved — 
m., Nov. 22, 1866, Marian, dr. of Edson Starke}^ 
Lives on the Richard Weeks place. Had Silence M., 
b. Mar. 4, 1869; Geneva D., b. Jan. 14, 1871 ; Carl 
C, b. Sept. 14, 1872: Julius C, b. Nov. 25, 1873, 
d. 1874; Sarah L., b. Jan. 24, 1875; Essie M., b. 
July 7, 1876. 

Stephen M. Whipple — Silas — Otis — Preserved 
— ist m. Julia, dr. of Elisha Bolles ; 2d m. Emma 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 53 1 

Andrews of Royalston, Aug. 19, 1882. No children ; 
lives at middle of the town. 

Of is Whiffle — Otis — Otis — Preserved — m . widow 
Margaret Lucas, April 5, 1855 ; she was b. Feb. 9, 
1827. He lives with Noah Perry. Had Amie, b. 
May 20, 1861, m. Willie J. Ballou. 

WHITCOMB. 

yacob VVhitcomb, son of Oliver Whitcomb, of Fitz- 
william, m. widow Phillis Grant, dr. of Anthony 
Sweet. Lived on the Anthony Sweet farm, now 
owned by Sidney B. Bowen. Had six children, viz: 
Jacob, b. April 23, 1813 ; Hannah, b. June 26, 1815, 
m. Bowman Howe ; Daniel, b. Oct. i, 1817 ; Anthony 
S., b. Aug. 2, 1820; Isaac, b. April 16, 1823, d. 
young; Cynthia, b. Sept. 21, 1825, m. Bowman 
Howe. He d. Feb. 13, 1870, aged 77 ; she d. Nov. 
23, 1866, aged 83. 

yacob Whitcomb, jr. — Jacob — m. Samantha,dr. of 
William Chase. Built a new house opposite his 
father's, and there lived until about 1850, when he 
removed to the place now owned by F. Osgood 
Bowen, where he had built a saw-mill, house, etc. 
He d. Nov. 29, 1855, aged 42. Had Sarah E., b. 
June 10, 1837 '■> J^i^G E., b. Aug. 29, 1839 '■> Jo^^^ A., 
b. Jan. 9, 1843, d. April 8, 1844; Judith A., b. Mar. 
25, 1845 ; Olive P., b. Nov. 10, 1847 ; after his death 
the family removed to Fltzwilliam. 

Daniel Whitcomb — Jacob — m. Mary, dr. of Dea. 
Elijah Lyon of Fitzwilliam. Resides now in Fltz- 
william. 



532 HISTORY OF THE 

Anthony S. Whitcomb — Jacob — m., Oct. 23, 1870, 
Abbie E., dr. of Nathaniel B. Fisher. Lived on his 
father's place until 1877, when he removed to Swan- 
sey, and now lives on the Major Parsons' place. Had 
Cora A., b. Feb. 27, 1871; Minnie B., b. Sept. 15, 
1872; Arthur A., b. Sept. 5, 1874; Grace E., b. 
Mar. 7, 1876; Susie M., b. Nov. r, 1878. 

yosc-ph Whitcomb, b. in Harvard, Mass., Dec. 6, 
1806, m. Nancy Gay of Hubbardston, and by her 
had : Maroe, b. March 30, 1836, m. Stephen W. 
Williams; Mary S., b. Mar. 6, 1840; Nancy M., 
b. Oct., 1841. His wife Nancy d. Jan. 30, 1842. He 
2d m. Mersylvia, dr. of Richard Weeks; shed. Nov. 
20, 1865, aged 62 ; 3d m. Mary Moulton of Wayland, 
Dec. 25, 1866, she d. Dec. 3, 1872 ; 4th m. Sarah 
Bolles, widow of Elisha, May 13, 1874. ■'^^ '^'^^ 
lives on the Jonathan Sweet place. 

Sylvester Whitcomb, from Swansey, lived on the 
Esq. Aldrich farm ; was insane, and d. in hospital at 
Brattleboro', Oct. 15, 1856, aged 48. No record. 

WHITTAKER. 

yohn Whittakcr, of Petersham, m., Oct. 4, 1789, 
Sarah, dr. of John Scott, sr. He lived on the road 
east of the Scott place, where Ebenezer Taylor after- 
terwards lived. 

Silas Whittake?', of New Salem, m., Nov. 22, 1812, 
Mary Hale. He lived west of the Dea. Amos Garn- 
sey place ; had a son, Joseph. 

One thing I've heard of this son Jo, 
The truth of which I do not know; 
Too strange it is for one to utter, 
That he was choked in eating butter. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 533 

WHITTEMORE. 
William W/iit/oiiorc, from Fitzwilliam, m. a dr. 
of Erastus Butterfield, Esq. He came to town about 
1844 ; lived where Mrs. Robert Aldrich now resides. 
He removed to Iowa about 1850. 

WHITMAN. 

Winihrop Whitman lived on the Nason place ; 
came to town, 1841. 

WHITMORE. 

Isaac Whitjjiorc, from Royalston, came to town, 
1839 ' li^'tifl on the Sam'l Gaskill place a few years, 
and then returned from whence he came. 

WHITNEY. 

Austin A. Whitncx m. a dr. of Rufus Foster of 
Fitzwilliam, and lived a few years, about 1840, on or 
near the place where William Green had lived. 

WING. 

Josef h Wing, b. June 23, 1747, from Smithfield, 
was f. s. on L. 10, R. 2, known as the Col. Silas Jill- 
son place. His house stood a few rods north of the 
house now on the premises, built by Col. Jillson. 
He removed to x\llentown, N. Y., about 1800. Had 
Hannah, Savory, Anna, Joseph, Hatzel, and Jabez. 

'John W^/V/o', brother of Joseph, came from Smith- 
field, 1774. Was f. s. on L. II, R. 2, known as the 
Ben. Buffum farm. He sold, 1796, and removed 
from town. Had by Margaret, his wife, John, Wil- 
liam, and others. No record of family. 



534 HISTORY OF THE 

Savo7-y Wing — Joseph — m. Lydia Gorton, Feb. 
14, 1792. Had Job, b. March 18, 1793. 

Joseph Wing^ jr. — Joseph — m., Oct. 23,1796, 
Martha Clark, of Fitzwilliam. 

Hatzcl Wing — Joseph — m., Aug. 25, 1801, Lil- 
lis, dr. of Paul Handy. He removed to Allentown, 
N. Y. 

WILLIAMS. 

Benjamin O. Williams lived on the Uriah Thayer 
place about 1840. Operated the mills near by. 

yohn Williams m., Jan. 10, 1810, Anna Barrus, 
probably a daughter of John, sr. He lived next south 
of Deacon Amos Garnsey, about 1818. 

David W. Williams ist m. Almina, dr. of Benja- 
min Aldrich, Sept. 17, 1846; shed. Aug. 16, 1847. 
2dm. Waitstill, dr. of Nahum Aldrich, Oct. 18, 1849. 
Moved on the Ananias Aldrich place, 1870. Had bv 
Almina: Emily E., b. Aug. 8, 1847, d. in infancy. 
By Waitstill had : Boardman A., b. Sept. 6, 1850, d. 
Sept. I, 1861 ; William H., b. Dec. 28, 1853 ; David 
W., b. Oct. I, 1856 ; Almina A., b. Oct. 31, 1858, d. 
Oct. 17, 1881 ; Benjamin H., b. Sept. 18, i860; Hub- 
bard M., b. Oct. 22, 1862 ; Mary E., b. June 5, 1865 ; 
Esther M., b. Feb. 18, 1868; John F., b. May 9, 
1871. 

Joseph Williams, of Warwick, m., Sept. 15, 1822, 
Hannah J., dr. of Daniel Man. Lived in Warwick. 
Had Stephen W. 

Stephen W. Williams — Joseph — of Warwick, 
m., Oct. 8, 1856, Maroa L.,dr. of Joseph Whitcomb. 
Lived with David Buftum, and now owns the BufTum 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 535 

farm. Resides in Keene. Had Elsie H., b. Aug. 
17, 1857, m. Fred. C. Foster, of Keene ; Charles B., 
b. Dec. 24, 1858, d. Feb. i, 1859. 

WILLOBY. 

Andrczu y. Willohy came from Hollis, N. II. ; 
bought the Dennis Harkness mills, and there manu- 
factured lumber, pail, and chair stuff' until about 1875. 
He was promoted to the office of selectman, and was 
also representative to the General Court one year. 
Is now living in Winchenden. 

WISWALL. 

Daniel Wisivall lived in town from 1814 to 1818, 
probably on L. i,R. 10, recently occupied by John 
Boyce. 

WOODBURY. 

Nathan G. Woodbury m., Dec. 31, 1849, Angela, 
dr. of Calvin Bryant. He came from Rindge, 1847 ; 
bought the Enos Holbrook trip-hammer shop ; built a 
saw-mill and pail factory ; did an extensive business 
there until Sept., 1870, when he removed to Keene, 
where he now resides, engaged in the furniture and 
pail business. Had Edward C, b. Jan. 29, 1854, *^* 
Jan. 24, 1865. 

WOODWARD. 

yosiak IVoodzvard was f. s. on L. 14, R. i, now 
owned by Mrs. Nahum Putney. He sold to William 
Hills, and removed to Swansey. Had Susanna, Jo- 
seph, Josiah, d., Luther, Betty, Polly, and Josiah. 

Will/am Woodward, son of Isaac Woodward, m., 
June 26, 1820, Betsey, dr. of Joseph Starkey, sr. 
Lived on the place before owned by Artemas Basseti, 



536 HISTORY OF THE 

and more recently occupied by Zadoc Taft. Removed 
to Svvansey. Had Eliza, m. Sylvander Whitcomb, 
and Dennison. 

Solomon Woodiuard, son of Isaac, m., Jan. 28, 
182 1, Waitstill Davenport, dr. of Joseph Clark Daven- 
port. Removed to Wallinj^ford, Vt. He lived a 
while in town on the Moses Wheaton place. 

WOOLEY. 

Thomas Wooley was from Reading, Mass. ; was f. 
s. on L. 5, R. 10, the place now occupied by Andrew 
Amadon. The house stood north-west of the build- 
ings now on the premises, and was the first two-story 
house built in town. He was a large land owner ; at 
first he bought of Col. Josiah Willard, 1763, Lots 10, 
II, 12, in R. 6, and L. 13, R. 7, L. 3, R. 10, and 
L. 5 and 6, R. 10. Had Asa, Jonathan, John, 
Nathan, David, and Sarah, who m. Reuben Parker; 
Mary, m. Oliver Barrus ; Esther, m. John Cass ; and 
probably had some others. The front of Curtis Par- 
ker's house was a part of the old Wooley house. He 
d. March, 1793. The name disappeared from the 
town previous to 1800. Some of the family removed 
to Winchester and Hinsdale. 

yohn Wooley — Thomas — was f. s. on L. 12, R. 
6, known as the Crooker place, and now owned by 
Almon Twitchell. He sold to Richard Peters about 
1 78 1, and removed from town soon after. Had one 
child, Samuel, b. May 21, 1767. 

Nathan Wooley — Thomas — was f. s. on L. 3, R. 
10 ; the building long since disappeared. He is sup- 
posed to have erected the first saw-mill in town, situ- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND, 537 

ated west of the Sprague mills, so-called, and above 
the bridge on the road to Whipple hill. Removed 
from town about 1780. Had Samuel, b. Aug. 24, 
1773; William, b. Sept. 5, 1777. 

Asa Woolcy m., Aug. 26, 1784, Betsey Knap, of 
Winchester. 

Jonathan Woolcy m., Oct. 2, 1780, Lucinda Bald- 
ing, of Svvansey. 

WORK. 
Robert Work early bought Martin's mills, and lived 
in an old house which stood where the present resi- 
dence of Leason Martin is located ; was a large land 
owner. No record of family. Had a son, Robert, 
who lived near his father ; also a son, James. 

James Work, a son of Robert, m., March 6, 1800, 
Rachel, dr. of Joseph Cass, the son of Deacon John. 

Isaac Work, a nephew of Robert Work, a hatter, 
lived at Work's house, at the Mills, and at various 
places in town ; lived with Esther, dr. of Thomas 
Bowen. He served apprenticeship with Robert Buf- 
fum. He d. June 26, 1852, aged 76. 

WRIGHT. 

William Wright, Esq., from Swansey, b. Nov. 
23, 1813, m., Nov. 29, 1838, Larina, dr. of Dan. Buf- 
fum. After living a few years on the Deacon Amos 
Garnsey farm, he removed to the Enoch Whipple 
place, and from thence to the Naromore place, now 
owned by Andrew Dodge, where his wife d.. May 
30, 1872. Is a justice of the peace; has frequently 
been on the board of selectmen and has represented 



538 HISTORY OF THE 

the town in the General Court. Had two children : 
L. Warren, b. Jan. 27, 1842; Lucy J., b. April 7, 
1840, m. Preston L. Freeman. 

L. Warren Wright — William — m., April 13, 1869, 
Addalette, dr. of x\bner Twitchell. He resides in 
Keene. Was in the service during the late war ; was 
promoted to first lieutenant of Co. A., 14th N. H. 
Vols., and promoted again to adjutant, Jan. 4, 1865. 

YOUNG. 

John S. l^oung, from Newport, R. I., bought of 
Edwin N. Bowen his farm and Mills on Tully brook, 
known as the Bowman Howe place, 1882 ; m, Mina 
Anderson. Had Mary S., b. Sept. 19, 1876; John 
P., b. June, 1879. 

YATES. 
James Tales m., Aug. 30, 1818, Naomi, dr. of 
Zacheus Estes ; removed to Monroe, Mass. Had five 
or six children. He and his wife d. in Monroe. 



§mm gffl^niSo 




RobeH Swan. 




Dan. Buffum. 





Jolin ocotf. 




JacobBoyce. 




Harvey Martin. 



Jeremiah Barrus Jr. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 539 



CHAPTER VIII. 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Nathaniel Aldrich— Sylvester Aldrich — Orrin Munroe Allen — Jonathan Atherton — 
Lemuel Atherton — James Rallou, jr. — Rev. Robert Bartlett — Job Bisbee — Phebe 
Bowen — Jedediah Buffum — Capt. Oliver Capron — Daniel Cass — Nahuni Cass — 
Kendall Fisher — Eliza Ballou Garfield — John Martin — Wilderness Martin — Jo- 
seph and Benjamin Newell — Loren Pickering — Timothy Pickering — Jonathan 
Rawson — Alonzo Rawson — Col. Henry Starkey — Moses Tyler — Jarvis Weeks — 
Hon. Joseph Weeks — James Harrison Cass' — Daniel, the Nig — Nancy Linty — 
Hannah Man — Ruth Ormsby — Penelope Phillips — Rachel Jillson — Aldis Boyce. 

Nathaniel Aldrich, Esq., was recognized, in his 
time, as one of the leading men of the town. He was 
chosen on the board of selectmen in 1788, and served 
almost continuously until 1813. He was early placed 
on the board on account of the discovery of his ability 
in ciphering out the rate of taxation for the selectmen 
of the previous year, who were unable to solve so 
difficult a problem. He did a considerable amount 
of justice business for one located so far away from 
the centre of the town. His marriage certificates were 
quite numerous, as appears upon the records. He 
was honored with the office of representative to the 
General Court. His last days were spent with his 
daughter, Mrs. Wilbur, in Danby, Vt., where he 
died. 

Sylvester Aldrich, for forty years or more a resi- 
dent of the town, became the largest land-owner in 
Richmond, possessing seemingly nearly all the land 
that joined him ; he was ambitious in the pursuit of 



540 HISTORY OF THE 

wealth ; he engaged in the manufacture of pails, etc., at 
North Richmond, a business with which he was un- 
acquainted by any former experience ; he quit the 
business in season to save a sufficiency for all his 
worldly needs. 

OiTJu Munroc Allen was among the more promis- 
ing young men of his time. He was studious, moral, 
and discreet; he obtained a respectable education, 
mainly by his perseverance and exertion as scholar in 
the old brick school-house. He completed his studies 
at the Royalston high-school, and afterwards taught 
the village school at Athol for two or three terms 
with marked success. It is probable that about this 
time he entertained some idea of preparing for the 
Unitarian ministry, but for some unknown reason he 
abandoned the project, and devoted his life, so far as 
is known, to agricultural pursuits. He removed to 
Pennsylvania with his father's family, and after re- 
maining there some years it is reported that he en- 
gaged in farming in Canada for a while, and again 
that he went to some of the Southern states ; his where- 
abouts at the present time, if he is living, are un- 
known. The other members of the family are now 
supposed to be dead. His sister Lamira was in- 
sane many years, and was a great trial and care to 
the family while she lived. It is not known that 
Orrin M. was ever married. 

yonathan At/ierton, Ssq., son of the first settler of 
that name, was one of the more substantial men of 
the town ; was of that class that gives dignity and 
character to any community. In his general mien he 
was dignified and commanding, in bodily stature he 
was among the largest in town, his voice was round 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 54I 

and sonorous ; this combination of qualities well fitted 
him for moderator of town meetings, which position 
he satisfactorily filled for many years in succes- 
sion, until he removed to Winchester, much to the re- 
gret of his fellow-citizens, in 1835. His political af- 
finities were with the Whigs, and his religious con- 
nections were with the Congregationalists of Win- 
chester. 

Lcmticl A/ her 1 0)1, son of Solomon, is remembered 
as one of the tall men of the town, a six footer, sure. 
His aspirations, in his younger days, led him to a 
study of the law ; he may have been a student of Fos- 
ter Alexander, of Winchester. It is probable that he 
never practiced the profession to any considerable 
extent. Was somewhat eccentric, and was possessed 
of fair abilities. He married Bliss, of Royalston, and 
lived some years in that town. He died 185 1, aged 73. 

'James Ballon, jr., whose genealogical record 
covers most of the changes in his life, is entitled to 
some further notice on account of the celebrity he ac- 
quired as an astrologer. He was for years consulted 
b}' persons who had lost their domestic animals, or 
other property, which may have strayed away or been 
stolen ; he was believed by many to have been clair- 
voyant, and able, under favorable conditions, to dis- 
cover the whereabouts of such property ; his power, 
however, seems not to have been confined to this 
alone ; he could, apparently, at times, penetrate the 
tangled web of life, and trace the life lines in their 
courses ; how he arrived at his conclusions is not 
known; he went to work with slate and pencil mak- 
ing circles, triangles, and other geometrical figures, 
but what relation these bore to the end soufrht is un- 



542 HISTORY OF THE 

known ; he certainly acquired great notoriety, and 
was visited quite often by persons from a distance. 
Tradition says that he foretold the day of his death, 
but of this there appears no conclusive evidence. He 
was evidently a man of quick perceptions, with large 
mental resources. He died in the prime of his man- 
hood, at the age of 47. 

Rev. Robej-t Bartlett^ whose mother was the wife 
of Jesse Martin, was probably born in Warwick, but 
lived most of the time during his boyhood in Rich- 
mond, with his parents, on Whipple hill, on the place 
recently owned bj' John Barrus. His early oppor- 
tunities for acquiring an education were limited to the 
district school ; he manifested an aptness to learn not 
common among his fellows, and a readiness in speech 
betokening a public speaker. When quite young he 
began to preach in school-houses and other places ; 
he was so low in stature at that timtj that he stood fre- 
quently on a stool, that he might be visible to the 
audience ; he became a Universalist, preached in 
Vermont and New Hampshire for some years, and on 
one occasion was invited to deliver the election ser- 
mon before the Vermont legislature. At nearly the 
close of his ministry, about 1876, he supplied the 
Universalist pulpit in Richmond, and finally removed 
to Boston, where he died, Jan., 1882. The Rev. Dr. 
Miner preached the funeral discourse, and his remains 
were taken to Laconia, N. H., for burial. 

yoh Bisbce, Esq., who for more than fifty years 
was a resident of the town, and was quite well known 
in the county of Cheshire, deserves a passing notice. 
It may be safely affirmed that his natural endowments 
were more than average. He was always greatly 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 543 

interested in politics ; he kept well posted in the do- 
ings ot" each of the political parties ; was an attentive 
reader of the Congressional Globe for several years ; 
he was unwavering in his devotion to the Whig party, 
and was persistent and unyielding in his advocacy of 
its principles ; was a great admirer of Daniel Web- 
ster, and defended, with great zeal, his famous 
seventh-of-March speech. He was of the old Pilgrim 
stock of old Plymouth, and in many respects was a 
representative type of those early fathers of New 
England. He was never popular with the peo- 
ple ; he lacked that suavity and grace which wins the 
multitude, and consequently received no official pro- 
motion at the hands of his townsmen. 

Phche Bozven, daughter of Zephaniah, was a 
teacher whose intellectual range was above the aver- 
age. She was in the academy with S. W. Buflum, 
at Patterson, N. J., for some years; she taught and 
travelled in various states from Maine to Texas : she 
had a keen perception of passing events, and the gift 
of concise, clear, and forcible expression in speaking 
and writing. She married late in life, while in New 
Orleans, Nahum Sisson, of Texas, a widower with 
two children. She survived him some years, having 
charge of the children. 

ycdediak Bufftim, the first settler on the farm still 
known by his name near the Four corners, was one 
of the solid men of the town; solid in body, solid in 
mind. His weight was over three hundred pounds, 
so large, in fact, that at the time of his death that the 
door-casings were removed for the passing of his 
cotlin. He held the office of town 'treasurer thirty 



544 HISTORY OF THE 

years, a much longer time than any other has held 
the office. He possessed good financial and execu- 
tive ability, was enterprising and active in business ; 
he w^as one of the more wealthy men of the town, 
was largely engaged in buying and selling land, and 
in loaning money ; was a farmer and blacksmith ; he 
built the first store at the middle of the town, and put 
his son William in charge ; he was benevolently dis- 
posed, as appears from his gift to the Qiiaker society ; 
he died 1808, aged 71. 

Caft. Olivet' Catron occupied a position of the 
first rank among the early settlers ; he evidently was 
a leader in political, as well as in military affairs ; he 
shared largely the confidence of his townsmen ; he 
was entrusted with the most weighty responsibilities, 
as his repeated leadership of the Richmond soldiers, 
in the war of the Revolution, most conclusively attests. 
While he was active and zealous in defence of the 
right, his activity and zeal was tempered with wisdom 
and prudence. He stands at the head of the list of 
representatives of the town, having been the first to 
represent the town in the General Assembly of the 
state. We are informed by tradition that he devoted 
so much of his time and attention to military and polit- 
ical affairs, to the neglect of his personal interests, 
that he became poor, and was obliged to sell his farm 
to pay his debts. It is a melancholy reflection surely, 
that one who had contributed so much to the public 
weal should, in his last days, be deprived of the means 
of a comfortable subsistence ; but his was not, perhaps, 
an isolated and an exceptional case in this respect. 

Daniel Cass, the first settler and ancestor of all of 
the name now in town, was one of the live men of 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 545 

the early time; was called a "smart man," as un- 
doubtedly he was, both ph3'sically and intellectually. 
He was a man of considerable wealth, owning large 
tracts of land, on which he appears to have settled 
each of his sons ; his place seems to have been the 
business centre of the town at first, contaniing a store, 
blacksmith shop, potash, etc. Was one of the found- 
ers of the Qiiaker society. In political matters he 
probably was radical rather than conservative, as ap- 
pears from his action in the Vermont controversy. 
He died in 1798, age 74. 

Orison B. Curtis, Esq., son of Orison Curtis, b. 
Jan. 25, 1825, removed with his father to Colerain, 
Mass., 1829; he engaged in merchandizing in that 
town, 1848, in which business he has continued to the 
present time. He has been school-committeeman and 
justice of the peace for more than twenty years, and 
also represented his district in the General Court, 
1877-8. 

Kendall Fisher. — Among those who were natives 
of other places, who have lived herein, Kendall Fisher 
may be justly considered one of the most active in 
town affairs, and one whose ability in the transaction 
of public business must forever remain unquestioned. 
As a selectman he was discreet and eminently able, 
and was ever on the alert to devise means to relieve 
the town of any financial burdens, caused by paupers 
or otherwise. He was instrumental, about 1852, in 
transporting two families to the far West, who had 
been thrown on the town for support, one of which 
never returned, and the other staid long enough to 
pav for all expenses of carrying out. Tlie principle 
involved in such transactions, however, can hardly 
35 



546 HISTORY OF THE 

be justified under the golden rule, only on the ground 
that the town, in justice, should not be obliged to sup- 
port persons born elsewhere, and by reason of settle- 
ment gained through their grandfathers. 

Eliza Ballon Garfield^ the mother of the late 
lamented President Garfield, was a native of Rich- 
mond. She was the daughter of James Ballon, jr., 
and her mother was the daughter of Henry Ingalls, 
Esq. ; hence, both on her father's and mother's side, 
she descended from Richmond families of an early 
date. She was born Sept. 21, 1801, on the place 
where her father lived, in the Ballou neighborhood, 
but removed with the family, when about two years 
old, to the Nathan Cass place, and from thence went 
with her mother to the state of New York, an account 
of which is more fully related in the genealogy of the 
family of James Ballou, jr. 

John Alartin^ from whom all of the name in town 
have sprung, was a man of means and influence in 
.the early times. Was enterprising and active in busi- 
ness ; he erected a saw and grist mill, and built for 
himself good buildings soon after he came ; he was 
on the first board of selectmen, in 1765, and again 
was on the board in 1776. He appears to have been 
a man of good natural abilities, doubtless, but limited 
in his literary attainments, having been deprived, in 
his youth, of the ordinary educational advantages of 
the times. 

Wilderness Martin, grandson of the above named 
John, was so named because the country round about 
was indeed one vast wilderness at that time. Many 
have thought that he was the first white male born 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 547 

in town, which evidently was not the case, as he 
was born in 1765, while Lemuel Scott was born 
1763, a difference in time so great that it would seem 
that there could have been no question as to priority 
of birth. 

yosep/i diwd Bcnjaniin JVcwcll, twins, sons of Joseph 
Newell, were men of mark and prominence in the 
town, always interested in public affairs, and w^ere 
generally present at all town meetings. They were 
w^ell-to-do farmers, and were quite well known in the 
county ; were of large physique and commanding 
presence, and they looked very much alike ; their 
height was about six feet, and the average weight of 
each was about two hundred and seventy-five ; in pol- 
itics they were divided, and in their opinions they 
were most decided ; Joseph was a Democrat, and Ben- 
jamin was a Republican ; their religious views were 
similar, both favoring the Universalists ; both shared 
largely the confidence of their fellow-citizens, and 
were repeatedly honored by being chosen on the board 
of selectmen, and as representatives to the General 
Court. They were both men of few words, neither 
ever attempting to make a speech in town meeting or 
in any other assembly, so far as is known. They 
both lived to great age; Joseph lived to be 85, and 
Benjamin to be 92. 

Lor en Pickerings son of Samuel Pickering, a na- 
tive of the town, some of whose early years were 
spent with his father in Winchester, ranks with jour- 
nalists of the first class. He removed to the West 
when a young man, and soon became the editor of a 
St. Louis paper, which he conducted with signal abil- 
ity for some years ; after resigning this position he 
travelled extensively in Europe, and then returned 



548 HISTORY OF THE 

and settled in San Francisco, where he became editor 
of a paper called The Mornhig- Call. He appears 
to have inherited largely the ability characteristic of 
his ancestors. 

Timothy Pickering., Esq.., son of John Pickering, 
who was a direct descendant of the first John Picker- 
ing, who settled in old Salem, possessed some char- 
acteristics worthy of note. He bore a striking resem- 
blance to the picture of old Judge Timothy Pickering, 
which hangs in the Old South church at Boston. 
The similarity between the two does not end with the 
physical likeness ; their mental characteristics appar- 
ently were much the same ; each possessed a clear, ar- 
gumentative turn of mind, and were endowed with a 
forcible use of language. Favoring surroundings 
and early educational advantages attended the Judge, 
while his namesake here had to contend with adverse 
influences which may have hindered his growth and 
development. The Esquire was always interested in 
politics ; he never wearied in discussing the merits of 
candidates, or the polic}'^ of parties ; was a strong par- 
tisan, unyielding and defiant in his opposition to the 
Federalists and Whigs ; his vocabulary of epithets, 
containing the most withering sarcasm, was inexhaust- 
ible, which he did not fail to use when occasion re- 
quired, which was not seldom in times of political ex- 
citement. In religion he was a Liberal ; he was 
favorably disposed towards the Unitarians, and took 
an active and foremost part in the formation of that 
society here. He was by trade a carpenter, a thor- 
ough workman. He built many houses, and was the 
contractor for building the Brick meeting-house. He 
was temperate in his habits, and a despiser of hypo- 
crites and shams. He died 1844, aged 6'^. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 549 

yonathan Razvson, Esq.^ was long identified with 
the town in its social, political, and business relations ; 
was a successful merchant, and continued in trade 
longer than any other in town ; held various town of- 
tices, and was representative to the General Court. 
He was above trickery and deception, and was always 
regarded as honorable in his dealings. In politics he 
was a Whig, and in religion he was a Liberal. He 
had many friends and but few enemies. He died, 
1843, at the age of 59. 

Alonzo Razvson, son of Jonathan, after serving as 
clerk in Lampson's store, at Keene, went to Louis- 
ville, Ky., and engaged in the wholesale grocery 
business, in which he continued many years. He 
accumulated an ample fortune; has travelled exten- 
sively, and now resides in Chicago. 

Col. Henry Starkcy, a native of the town, but for 
some years a resident of Swansey, is still quite hale 
and hearty. He is supposed to be next to the 
oldest person born in town now living. He pre- 
sents a type of vigorous manhood and muscular de- 
velopment conducive to the greatest longevit}^ His 
mind is still active, and his memory good. He enjoys 
a joke as of olden time. He was one of the pioneer 
shook-makers of the town, in which industr}- his sons 
have been engaged with marked success. He relates 
an incident of travel in his younger days, of a journey 
on foot to Pennsylvania, to visit some friends, when 
about eighteen years old. This he accomplished, 
with a pack on his back, in about three weeks, a 
distance, both ways, of about five hundred miles. He 
lost his wife some years ago. He has outlived three 



550 HISTORY OF THE 

of his sons, and is now living on his homestead with 
his daughter, Mrs. Taft. He is now 89. 

Moses Tyler, Esq., possessed more than ordinary 
attainments ; was, in fact, well educated, and had 
superior qualifications for the transaction of town busi- 
ness, as the records of the town still show, that bear 
the impress of his hand. He was evidently a good land 
surveyor and conveyancer. He was peculiar in his 
temperament, and exceedingly orderly and method- 
dical in his business ; was a man of large physique, 
weighing nearly three hundred pounds. He died in 
an apopletic fit, sitting on a rock in a field near Jacob 
and Samuel Parker's, Nov. 9, 1S18, age 6'^. 

'Jarvis Weeks, Esq., came to town with his father 
when he was a young man. He seemingly for a 
while followed in the footsteps of his uncle Joseph, in 
holding successively the same offices, up to that of 
representative, which was the highest point gained. 
He was mail agent, under the administration of Buchan- 
an, between Burlington and Boston. He had con- 
siderable shrewdness in political management. The 
records of the town kept by him bear witness of his 
efficiency and competency as town clerk. 

Hon. yoseph Weeks acquired more political dis- 
tinction than any olher citizen of the town. He was 
born in the neighboring town of Warwick, close by 
the border of this town, but lived most of his life here. 
His education was limited to the meagre acquirements 
obtained from the common schools of that period. He 
possessed a dignified, commanding presence, but in 
his latter years his physique was somewhat impaired 
by his corpulency. He shared largely of the confi- 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 55 1 

dence of his fellow citizens, as appears from the nu- 
merous olFices he held : of justice of the peace, town 
clerk, representative to the General Court, assistant 
judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and, lastly, 
representative to Congress. He was undoubtedly an 
adroit political manager, possessed good natural abil- 
ities, and a more than ordinary stock of mother wit. 
After his return from Congressional service, he re- 
moved to "Winchester, and lived on the place now 
owned by Stephen Randall, until his death, 1845. 

Peculiar People. 

yames Harrison Cass was a prodigy, in size at 
least ; he was about six feet and eleven inches in 
height ; his proportions were not particularly sym- 
metrical ; his great height was caused more by the 
elongation of his lower extremities, than by length of 
body ; his feet were correspondingly long and large. 
A special last had to be made for his shoes (he never 
had boots), the number of which, by scale of meas- 
urement, was about No. 17 ; his ordinary weight 
probably was not much over two hundred pounds. 
His mental capacity was evidentl3% on the whole, less 
than the average, but his wit and gift of ready retort 
was fully equal to his fellows. He lacked vitality, 
died 3'oung, barely reaching his majority. 

Daniel, the Nig. — About 182S there lived with Dr. 
Parkhurst a colored boy by the name of Daniel, who 
by the boys was called " Daniel, the Nig." He was 
easy and good-natured, and readily forgave otlences, 
and hence was the subject of frequent jokes that \vere 
gotten up at his expense. One of these is remembered 
as purposely planned, and was carried out accordingly 



^S~ HISTORY OF THE 

on ihe dam of the Bark mill-pond in this wise : it was 
arranged that a platoon of boys should march across 
the dam, keeping step as soldiers. It was so fixed 
that Daniel, the Nig, was on the side next the water, 
and when in the middle, where the water was deep- 
est, a sudden move of each of one step to the left 
threw Daniel, the Nig, splashing into the water. He 
was speedily rescued, however, from his perilous situ- 
ation, and made to believe that it was simpl}' an acci- 
dent, for which all were " terrible sorrj-." He after- 
wards stole something belonging to the Doctor, and 
attempted to run aw^ay, but was overtaken and brought 
back; "wassorr}'," he said, and "knew it was a 
shame ; but as the devil Qot into him before he knew 
it, the devil ought to bear the blame." 

In the early history of the towni was a person of 
now unknown parentage, who had the singular name 
of Nancy Linty. She was so named, it was said, by 
reason of the fact that soon after her birth she was 
placed in some receptacle in which there was an 
abundance of lint, and this adhering to the child in 
considerable quantities, suggested to the attendants 
the appropriateness of the name, and in the absence 
of any known father she ever went by the name of 
Nancy Linty. She had a son, named Royal Ormsb}', 
who grew to manhood, and became an active citizen 
and blacksmith, and removed to Monroe, Mass., 
about 1813. 

Hannah Man was the daughter of Abraham Man, 
and w^as of small stature, so small as to be called a 
dwarf, not much larger than Tom Thumb's wife. 
She spent the last of her days in the family of Peleg 
Taft, sr., who married her sister. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 553 

Ruth Ormshy was probably the daufrhter of Oljver 
Ormsby, who married Alice Cass. She was never 
married. Lived at various places, at Moses Tyler's, 
at Peregrine Wheeler's, and other places. She was 
a comical genius, occasionally witty, but on the whole 
was considered below mediocrity. She died about 
i«30. 

Penelope Phillips, known also as Penelope Man, 
was the daughter of old Gideon Man's wife by a for- 
mer husband, or else she was illegitimate. She was 
quite masculine in her general appearance, had a 
beard, and a voice harsh and coarse ; was quite large 
and had a commanding way. She evidently pos- 
sessed good ability, and was a superior manager of 
out-door business^ - Her name appears on the list of 
tax-payers on personal and real estate for several 
years. She lived with Mr. Man until his death in 
1800, and then continued with the mother until her 
death in 1810, when she removed to Ben. Man's, and 
again to Major Ebenezer Swan's, where she died 
about 1818. 

Deaf a?id Dumb. 

Rachael yUlson, daughter of Paul Jillson, sr., was 
born deaf and dumb. She had no special opportuni- 
ties for instruction such as are enjoyed by deaf mutes 
of the present day. By a system of signs she was 
enabled to converse with the family on ordinary 
topics. Her natural capacity for learning was evi- 
dently good, and she had quite fair and comely fea- 
tures. She lived, during her last years, with her 
brother, Silas. She was unmarried, and retained her 
connection with the Friends' society. 



554 



HISTORY OF THE 



Aldis Boycc, son of Enoch Bo}'ce, had the misfor- 
tune to be deprived of hearing from birth ; had good 
capacity for learning ; was educated at the Hartford 
Deaf and Dumb Asylum ; learned the trade of cabinet- 
maker ; is married, and lives near Malone, N. Y. 

Nonagenarians Born in Town. 
yames Biifiivi, of Keene, son of Caleb Buffum, of 
Richmond, b. 1792, is probably the the only native 
of the town now living over 90 years of age. On a 
visit paid him in 1882, he appeared to retain a clear 
recollection of matters in the olden time : he related 
interesting incidents connected with his boyhood, 
about attending school kept by James Ballon, jr., in 
a part of his house, when he lived in the Ballou 
neighborhood ; how he peeked through cracks be- 
tween the apartments to see how fortunes were told, 
but did not succeed in finding out. He recounted 
other matters of much interest, pertaining to the early 
settlers of Gaskill hill and the people of the east part 
of the town. 

Jerahmeel Allen was 91, Jeremiah Barrus was 94, 
Barnabas Barrus 95, Aaron Harkness 91, Benjamin 
Newell 92. There may be some others of which we 
have no account, or which we ma}^ have accidentally 
omitted. Many in town have lived to be as old, but 
most of them were certainl}' born elsewhere. 

Centc7iarian Born in Toivji. 
Prudence, daughter of Paul Handy, b. 1777, who 
married Hendrick Martin and removed to Barton, Ver- 
mont, probably attained to as great an age as any born 
in Richmond. An account was given in a newspaper 
article, a few years ago, of her walking some 10 
miles in a day when she was about 97. It is under- 
stood that she lived to be over 100 years of age. 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



555 



CHAPTER IX. 



LONGEVITY, FIRST SETTLERS, ETC. 



List of Persons who were Born in Richmond, or have Resided therein, who have 
lived Seventy Years and Upwards — The first Settlers and some of their Suc- 
cessors — Conclusion. 

The following is a list of persons who were born 
in Richmond, or have resided therein, who have 
lived seventy years and upwards, alphabetically ar- 
ranged, 1883 : — 



Nathan Aldrlch , . . . 


S3 


Martha, his wife . . . 


75 


Abner Aldrlch . . . . 


88 


Elizabeth, his wife . . 


76 


Nahum Aldrich . . . 


88 


Esther, his wife . . . . 


S4 


Levin Aldrich . . . . 


7« 


Mary, his wife . . . . 


79 


Sands Aldrich . . . . 


75 


Abigail, his wife . . . 


S3 


Sylvester Aldrich . . 


69 


Sarah, his wife . . . 


74 


Moses Allen, sr. . . 


81 


Moses Allen, jr. . . 


89 


Mary, his wife . . . 


• 77 


Jerahmeel Allen . . 


. 91 


Lilburn Allen . . . 


• 77 


Jeremiah Amadon 


. 87 


Abigail, his wife . . 


. 92 


Jona. Atherton . . . 


. 76 


Solomon Atherton . 


• 73 


Jona. Atherton, jr. 


• 7- 



Maturin Ballou 
Hosea Ballou . 
Nathan Ballou 
David Ballou . 
James Ballou, si 
bzial Ballou . 
Russell Ballou 
vSilas Ballou, sr. 
Silas Ballou, jr. 
Silas Ballou, 3d 
Abner Barden 
Nancy, his wife 
Michael Barrus 
Samuel Barrus 
Jeremiah Barrus 
Barnabas Barrus 
John Barrus . 
William Bassett, sr 
Ruth, his wife . 
Daniel Bassett . 
Susanna, his wife 
Amos Boorn . . 



02 
81 

7S 

83 
89 

8i 
84 
84 
7- 
7- 
81 
81 

83 
81 

94 
95 
85 

93 

83 

n 
75 
84 



556 



HISTORY OF THE 



William Boorn . 
Abigail, his wife 
Nathaniel Boorn 
Mary, his wife . 
Thomas Bowen . 
Penelope, his wife 
Zephaniah Bowen 
Martha, his wife 
Nathan Bowen . 
Lavina, his wife . 
Elder Nathaniel Bolle 
Thankful, his wife 
Jeremiah Bolles . . . 
John Bolles .... 
Cynthia, his wife . . 
Daniel C. Bryant . . 
Susanna, his wife . . 
Chandler Bryant . . 
Noah Bisbee .... 

Job Bisbee 

Paul Boyce 

Cadlsh Bo3-ce .... 

John Boyce 

Jedediah Buflum . . 
George Buft'um . . . 
Esek Buffum .... 
Lucretia, his wife . . 
William Butlum . . 
David Buflum ... 
Betsey, his wife ... 
James Buflum, of Keene 

living .... 
Benjamin Buflum 
Benj. Bufflim, of Roy a 

ston, living . . . 
Dan Buflum, living 
Joseph Buffum . . 
Mrs. Robert Buflum 



79 
73 

S3 

72 

90 

77 
74 

72 

63 

84 

85 
89 

S4 

74 

79 

79 
82 

87 

87 

72 

81 

77 
7- 
71 
83 
69 

88 
83 
79 
78 

92 
8- 

84 

85 
69 
76 



Cass Bullock . . 
Hannah, his wife 
Nathan Bullock . 
Sarah, his wife . 
Cass Bullock, jr. 
Asa Bullock . . 
Jacob Bump . . 
Dinah, his wife . 

Deacon Jolin Cass 
John Cass, jr. . 
Lydia, his wife 
Moses P. Cass 
Daniel Cass, sr, 
Daniel Cass, jr 
Mordica Cass, about 
Jona. Cass, sr. 
Luther Cass . . 
Mrs. Martin Cass 
Oliver Capron . 
Mrs. William Chase 
Luther Cook . . 
Nathan Cook . . 
Simeon Cook . . 
Benjamin Crooker 

John Ellis . . . 
Dea. Martin Ellis, 
Daniel Ellis . . 
Elizabeth, his wife 

Lewis Freeman . . 

Mrs. Cyrus Garnsey 
William Goddard . 
Thomas Goddard . 
Nahum Grout . . 

Paul Handy . . . 
Amy, his wife, about 



TOWN 


OF 


RICHMOND. 


557 


George Handy . . . 


SS 


Polly, his wife .... 


76 


Ruth, bis wife . . . 


84 


Benjamin Newell . . . 


93 


Nathan Harkness . . 


77 


Keziah, his wife . . . 


8- 


Susanna, his wife . . 


78 


Nathaniel Naromore . . 


8- 


John Harkness . . . . 


84 


Annie, his wife .... 


73 


Flannah, his wife . . 


77 






Elijah Harkness . . . 


88 


Reuben Parker .... 


91 


George Harkness . . 


73 


Samuel Parker .... 


70 


Ohcd Harkness . . . . 


84 


Townsend Parker . . . 


79 


Aaron Harkness . . 


91 


Mrs. Timothy Pickering, 


79 


Anthony Harris . . . 


81 


David Powers .... 


S3 


Ruth, his wife . . . 


94 


Stephen Potter .... 


97 


Luke Harris .... 


84 








Reuben Randall . . . 


91 


Susanna, his wife . . 


85 






Levi Randall 


83 

87 


Stephen Harris . . . 


75 


Huldah, his wife . . . 


William Hills . . . 


96 






W^illiam Randall . . . 


75 


Abigail, his wife . . 


. 88 






Mahala, his wife . . , 


71 


Nathaniel Hills . . . 


70 




Widow Candace Howe 


N 70 


James Raymer .... 


75 




Mrs. Hubbard Reed . . 


80 


Paul Jillson 


71 


Henry Rice 


73 


Silas Jillson .... 


77 


Abigail, his w^ife . . . 


73 


Elizabeth, his wife . 


79 






Paul Jillson, jr. . . . 


/ y 

71 


Israel Saben, about . . 


80 




Beulah, his wife, abou 


: So 


Aaron Kelton .... 


•$>(> 


Obediah Sprague . . . 


88 


Asahel Kelton . . . 


■ 74 


Enoch Sprague .... 


69 


Betsey, his wife . . . 


. 78 


Samuel Sprague . . . 


84 


Samuel Kimpton . . 


80 


John Starkey 


80 


Dorothy, his wife . . 


76 


Samuel Starkey .... 


78 






Thankful, his wife . . . 


83 


John Martin, sr. . . 


75 






Mrs. Wilderness Martii 


1, 81 


Ballon Swan, living . . 


84 






Dr. Ebenezer Swan . . 


70 


Ezra Martin .... 


71 




Mary, his wife . . . 
Daniel Martin . . . 


85 
73 


Tamasin, his wife . . . 
Jacob Sweet, about . • 


83 
75 


Joseph Newell . . . 


71 


Ellis Thayer, about . . 


So 


Catharine, his wife . 


77 


Mrs. Grindall Thayer . 


96 


Joseph Newell, jr. . . 


85 


Jeremiah Thayer . . . 


8- 



558 



HISTORY OF THE 



Peleg Taft .... 


• 85 


Susanna, his wife . 


. 87 


Elias Taylor . . . 


■ S3 


Lydia, his wife . . 


• 73 


Peleg Taft, jr. . . 


. 88 


Polly, his wife . . 




William Weeks . . 


• 74 


Richard Weeks . . 


• 77 


Lydia, his wife . . 


. 82 


Joseph Weeks . . 


. 72 


Roswell Weeks . . 


. 72 


Charles Whipple . 


. 84 



Dan. Whipple 
Elkanah Whipple 
Riifus Whipple . 
William Whipple 
Preserved Whipple 
Olive, his wife . 
Russell Whipple 
Nancy Whipple , 
Silas Whipple 
Prusia, his wife . 
Jacob Whitcomb 
Phillis, his wife . 
Isaac Works . , 



82 

75 

S4 
70 

6S 

94 
88 

71 

84 

79 
77 
83 
81 



TOWN OF RICHMOND. 



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